As a teen growing up in Los Angeles, Sundby was captivated by the people working out on Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, especially those doing gymnastic moves. He was short and light, so was often “on top” of human pyramids, and did handstands while held up by other people, including women.
He went on tour with one man he met, doing acrobatic shows. And he was serious about his sport, and worked to make it legitimate: he co-founded the U.S. Gymnastics Federation (now USA Gymnastics, the sport’s U.S. governing authority), founded Modern Gymnast magazine, and established the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. He died March 18 in southern California; he was 87.