STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford senior Asher Hong has been named one of six finaliasts for the Nissen-Emery award, as announced by the Collegiate Gymnastics Association (CGA) on Friday morning.
Hong was one of two gymnasts to be unanimously voted as a finalist, joining Fuzzy Benas (Oklahoma), Asher Cohen (Nebraska), Frederick Richard (Michigan), Parker Thackston (Ohio State) and Ignacio Yockers (Oklahoma) as nominees for the prestigious honor.
Recognized as the highest honor in college gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery award is given annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation. The award will be presented at the annual NCAA Championship banquet next month.
Boasting a highly decorated collegiate career, Hong is a two-time NCAA Championship team member, winning six national titles individually across four apparatus during his time on The Farm. A ten-time All-American, Hong has twice earned the highest conference honor, winning MPSF Gymnast of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
At the international level, Hong helped Team USA secure a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the United States' first team medal since 2008. Hong is also a two-time all-around champion at the U.S. National Championships, winning by a record margin in 2025 to become the 13th man to win the all-around national title multiple times.
The Cardinal boasts seven previous Nissen-Emery winners, including Colt Walker (2024), Brody Malone (2022), Akash Modi (2017), Eddie Penev (2013), Dan Gill (2004), Josh Stein (1995), and Steve Hug (1974).
Hong is looking to become the sixth honoree under head coach Thom Glielmi, joining Walker, Malone, Modi, Penev, and Gill.
The original Nissen Award was named in honor of George Nissen, a former NCAA champion, for his contributions to men's gymnastics. The award was renamed the Nissen-Emery Award in 1998 to honor Dr. Robert Emery, a Penn State graduate, who won the Nissen Award in 1969.
The Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally."