Otto Steffen

Otto Steffen represented the New York Turnverein at the 1904 Olympics although he had recently moved to Maryland. Steffen was one of the top American gymnasts in the 1890’s. He was national all-around champion from 1898-1900, and won national titles on the following apparatus events: horse vault (1899), parallel bars (1897-1900), and pommelled horse (1898). Steffen’s move to Maryland was so he could take up a position as a gymnastics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy where he remained until 1911. He arrived in the US in 1890 and became a citizen in 1900.