He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games.

[3] As a youth, he participated in gymnastics with his older brother Arthur and Tom was the Colorado state all-around championship while in high school.

He competed from 1985 to 1988 and finished as one of the most accomplished gymnasts in program history with 38 combined individual titles.

[5] As a junior, he was the 1987 NCAA men's gymnastics championship all-around champion and was the co-champion on the parallel bars with Nebraska teammate Kevin Davis.

Schlesinger was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team for seven consecutive years.