The Ultimate Truth: Was Janet Jones A Gymnast? Unpacking Her Iconic Sports Movie Role

The question of whether Janet Jones was a professional gymnast is one of the most enduring pieces of celebrity trivia from the 1980s, largely due to her starring role in a major Hollywood sports drama. While her incredible athleticism and sharp physical prowess are undeniable, the truth behind her background is rooted in a different, though equally demanding, performance art. This article, updated for December 2025, dives deep into the life and career of Janet Jones Gretzky to definitively answer the question and explore the fascinating intersection of her dance career and her most famous athletic film role.

The short answer is no, Janet Jones was not a competitive gymnast. She is an accomplished American actress, model, and professional dancer whose physical conditioning allowed her to convincingly portray a world-class athlete on screen, a performance so authentic it has confused fans for decades. Her ability to blend high-level performance with a compelling narrative is a testament to her talent, a talent she honed long before she became known as the wife of "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky.

Janet Jones Gretzky: Complete Biography and Profile

Janet Jones, known professionally before her marriage as Janet Jones, has a career that spans modeling, professional dancing, and acting across film and television. Her life story is a classic Hollywood tale that transitioned into one of the most famous sports dynasties in North America.

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• Full Name: Janet Marie Gretzky (née Jones)
• Born: January 10, 1961
• Age (as of 2025): 64 years old
• Birthplace: Bridgeton, Missouri, U.S.A. (a St. Louis native)
• Spouse: Wayne Gretzky (married July 16, 1988, in a highly publicized event dubbed "The Royal Wedding")
• Children (5):
  • Paulina Gretzky (born 1988, model and singer)
  • Ty Gretzky (born 1990)
  • Trevor Gretzky (born 1992, former professional baseball player)
  • Tristan Gretzky (born 2000)
  • Emma Gretzky (born 2003)
• Notable Career Highlights (Actress/Dancer):
  • Contestant on the television show Dance Fever (1979)
  • Film roles in The Beastmaster (1982), Annie (1982), Staying Alive (1983), The Flamingo Kid (1984), American Anthem (1986), and Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988).
  • Appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine (1987).
• Current Activities: Supporting the Gretzky family empire, attending public events, and focusing on family life, including her grandchildren.

The American Anthem Myth: Why Everyone Thinks Janet Jones Was a Gymnast

The persistent belief that Janet Jones was a gymnast stems almost entirely from her lead role as Julie Lloyd in the 1986 sports drama, American Anthem. The film, directed by Albert Magnoli, centered on the intense world of competitive gymnastics, specifically following athletes preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

In the movie, Jones’s character, Julie Lloyd, is a talented but arrogant floor-exercise superstar who trains alongside Steve Tevere, played by actual Olympic gold medalist Mitch Gaylord. Jones brought a palpable intensity and physical grace to the role, convincingly performing many of the dance and less complex acrobatic movements required of a top-tier athlete. Her on-screen performance was so compelling that it blurred the lines between her acting and the reality of competitive sports.

The Critical Role of Her Dance Background

Janet Jones's true athletic foundation is in dance, not gymnastics. She began her career as a professional dancer and model, gaining early recognition as a contestant on the syndicated television program Dance Fever in 1979. This extensive dance background provided her with the crucial physical discipline, flexibility, and stage presence necessary to play a gymnast. The floor exercise routine, in particular, is heavily choreographed and relies on a dancer's grace and rhythm, making Jones a perfect fit for the dramatic elements of the role.

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Her experience as a dancer in films like Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, further prepared her for the demanding physical requirements of a lead role in a sports film. The production was able to leverage her existing physical talents to create a believable portrayal of an elite competitor.

The Olympic Gymnastics Double: Michelle Hollis Dusserre

While Janet Jones performed the acting and dance-heavy portions of the floor routines, the most difficult and high-risk acrobatic maneuvers required the expertise of a professional. For these complex sequences, Jones was doubled by Michelle Hollis Dusserre, an actual world-class gymnast.

Dusserre was a member of the United States women's gymnastics team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, making her the genuine article. The use of a highly decorated Olympic athlete as a stunt double is a common practice in Hollywood, especially in films where the athletic feats are central to the plot. This detail is the ultimate proof that Jones was an actress portraying a gymnast, not a former competitor herself. The combination of Jones's acting and Dusserre's technical skill created the seamless illusion that has captivated and confused fans for decades.

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From Hollywood to the Gretzky Family Empire: Her Life After American Anthem

While American Anthem remains a key cinematic entity in Janet Jones's career, her life took a significant turn shortly after its release when she married hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. The couple first met in 1982 on the set of Dance Fever, where Jones was a dancer and Gretzky was a celebrity guest judge. They reconnected and began dating years later.

Their 1988 wedding in Edmonton, Alberta, was a massive media event, cementing their status as a North American power couple, often compared to royalty. This union of a Hollywood actress and an NHL legend created one of the most famous sports families in the world, shifting Jones's public identity from a rising actress to the matriarch of the Gretzky dynasty.

The Gretzky Children and Their Own Athletic Pursuits

The Gretzky family has continued the athletic and performance legacy, integrating many LSI keywords and entities into their own careers. The couple shares five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma.

• Paulina Gretzky: Their eldest daughter, Paulina, is a successful model and singer, who is married to professional golfer Dustin Johnson.
• Trevor Gretzky: Trevor pursued a professional career in baseball, playing for several teams in the Chicago Cubs organization, thereby continuing the family's deep connection to professional sports.

Janet Jones's role today is primarily focused on supporting her husband's various business ventures, including his work in the NHL and other sports-related entities. She continues to be a visible presence, often accompanying "The Great One" to high-profile events. In July 2024, the couple celebrated their 37th year together, with public appearances continuing into 2025, demonstrating that her influence as a Hollywood icon and sports wife remains fresh and current.

Conclusion: The Legacy of a Dancer-Turned-Gymnast

The simple answer to "Was Janet Jones a gymnast?" is no, but the full story is far more interesting. Janet Jones is a multi-talented performer whose extensive dance background provided her with the physicality and discipline to convincingly play a floor-exercise champion in American Anthem. The myth of her being a professional gymnast is a powerful testament to her acting ability and the seamless work of her Olympic double, Michelle Hollis Dusserre. Her career, which includes a host of 80s film entities and her subsequent role as the wife of the NHL's greatest player, Wayne Gretzky, ensures her place as a fascinating figure at the crossroads of Hollywood and the sports world. She is not a gymnast, but rather a Hollywood powerhouse who helped bring the world of competitive sports to the big screen.