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University of Illinois Athletics

2026 Men's Gymnastics Roster

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

26 Brandon Dang

  • Position Pommel Horse
  • Class Junior
  • Height 5-9
  • Major Electrical Engineering
  • Hometown San Jose, Calif.
  • High School Evergreen Valley High School
  • Instagram brandon_dang_

Biography

USA Gymnastics Logo USA Gymnastics Senior National Team Member (2025)
Big Ten Logo white 2x Big Ten Pommel Horse Champion (2024, 2025) 
NCAA Badge NCAA All-American (2024) 
USA Button 2x Regular Season Pommel Horse All-American (2024, 2025)
Big Ten Logo white Big Ten Specialist of the Year (2025)
Big Ten Logo white Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2024)
USA Button CGA Rookie of the Year (2024) 
USA Button CGA Specialist of the Year (2025)
 Letterwinner (2024, 25)

Individual Titles 

Event Titles
Pommel Horse 18
Total  18

Career Highs

Event Score
Pommel Horse 15.200 | vs. Michigan | Feb. 3, 2024

Career Highlights

  • Named to the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team after becoming the Winter Cup Pommel Horse Champion (Feb. 21, 2025)
  • Entered into the Top-10 All-Time Pommel Horse Titles list after his seventh title in 2025
  • Currently at the No. 7 spot on the Top-10 Single-Season Pommel Horse Titles list with nine in 2025
  • Landed at the No. 7 spot on the Top-10 Single-Season Pommel Horse Titles list with nine in 2024
  • Won his second-consecutive Big Ten Championships title on pommel horse
  • Named CGA Rookie of the Year (2024)
  • Named CGA Specialist of the Year (2025)

Sophomore - 2025

  • Competed in 10 meets during the season, including both days of the Winter Cup and Big Ten Championships
  • Named to the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team after becoming the Winter Cup Pommel Horse Champion (Feb. 21)
  • Four-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week (Jan. 21, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 4)
  • Four-time CGA Specialist of the Week (Jan. 29, Feb. 27, March 5, April 10)
  • Went undefeated in the regular season on pommel horse (7-0)
  • Big Ten Pommel Horse Champion
  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • First-Team All-Big Ten
  • Big Ten Specialist of the Year
  • CGA Specialist of the Year

Freshman - 2024

  • Made his Illini debut at the Windy City Invitational on Jan. 13
  • Earned his first title of his career on pommel horse (14.450) at Greenville on Jan. 20
  • Collected nine titles on the year
  • Competed in all 14 meets plus both days of the Winter Cup 
  • Five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 12, Feb. 28) 
  • Two-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week (Feb. 21, Feb. 28)
  • Three-time College Gymnastics Association Rookie of the Week (Feb. 14, Feb. 28, March 3) 
  • Scored a career high on pommel horse (15.200) versus Michigan on Feb. 3

High School/Club 

  • Five state championship appearances 
  • Four regional championships appearances
  • Six-time national pommel horse champion
  • Four-time regional pommel horse champion
  • Five-time USA Gymnastics All-Star Team member (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023)
  • Two-time Region 1 member (2022 and 2023)
  • Has 46 top 10 state finishes, 24 top 10 regional finishes and seven top-5 national finishes

Personal 

  • Born May 26, 2005
  • Parents are Eric and Lynne Dang
  • Has one brother, Ethan
  • Pursuing a degree in electrical engineering
  • Chose Illinois because of "the prestigious computer science and engineering programs, the positive team spirit, and the fantastic coaching staff."

Historical Player Information

  • 26

    2024Freshman

    Pommel Horse
    5'9"
    26
  • 26

    2025Sophomore

    Pommel Horse
    5'9"
    26
  • 26

    2026Junior

    Pommel Horse
    5'9"
    26