Fred Roethlisberger first became interested in gymnastics when his father brought him to the Milwaukee Turners Club as a kid. He built that interest into a fine collegiate career at the University of Minnesota and continued to excel at the national and international level after college.

Roethlisberger won the U.S. Gymnastics Federation National Championship in 1964 and competed in the 1968 Olympics. After his competitive days were over, he coached at UW- Whitewater. His son, John, is a three-time Olympian.