Aleksas Trotter, 1986-2008

This morning came the news that montagemaker, blogger and photographer Aleksas Trotter died unexpectedly in Madison, Wis. on April 19.

He was 21.

His obituary was published in The Journal Times of Racine County, in southeastern Wisconsin.

As a gymnast, Lex was a two-time Wisconsin state champion who went to Penn State briefly before returning home after a shoulder injury to attend Marquette University.

Lex made montages and webpages and photographed some of the best American gymnasts of his generation. The gymnasts he loved most were the ones who brought something extra to the competition floor in terms of personality, spirit and choreography — Yvonne Tousek, Tabitha Yim, Terin Humphrey, Allyse Ishino, Shantessa Pama and Chellsie Memmel.

He also had a supreme sensitivity to the not-so-wonderful stories that gymnastics sometimes produces.

Sad Atler (on Vanessa Atler):

Cemetary Drive:

There are many who make gymnastics montages. But Lex was one of the first, and his are some of the best.

“Feeling has its prerequisites and demands, all which force you into no other place but the present, yet remind you of everything that is behind you. Gymnastics is interpretational. It isn’t for the intellects, who don’t realize they often think themselves out of the very experiences they are witnessing with their theories, doctrines, and formulas which seem to point to one final answer,” he wrote in an 2007 essay titled “Why I Like Gymnastics.”

“For gymnastics is a primitive art, recalled by time. It is a sport that honors dualism – two opposing forces acting against each other) in the most harmonious of ways….The more avante-garde routines, like those of the great Svetlana Boguinskaya and Canadian Yvonne Tousek, depict a struggle, or a fight, or a celebration where it seems only our unconscious mind can fully understand.”

I can’t think of any better way to honor him on this blog than to post some of his montages and clips of his favorite gymnasts. R.I.P., Aleksas.

Yvonne Tousek, 1996 USA vs. the World, Floor Exercise:

Terin Humphrey, 2002 Gymnix, Floor Exercise:

Tabitha Yim, 2004 Olympic Trials Day Two, Floor Exercise:

Allyse Ishino, 2008 Stanford vs. UCLA, Floor Exercise:

Taj Mahal Dance Montage:

My personal favorite, “Destiny,” is about those who were in contention to make the 2003 World Championship team.

Lex’s youtube channel is Gymkingdiesel, where his montages, favorite performances (and much rare footage) can be found. His blog is at aleksas.com.

Related posts:
The montagemaker returns
Gymnastics History — in montage form
New Youtube Page from Aleksas Trotter

Tags: Aleksas Trotter, Allyse Ishino, Chellsie Memmel, Shantessa Pama, Svetlana Boguinskaya, Tabitha Yim, Terin Humphrey, Vanessa Atler, Yvonne Tousek