Grade Junior

Sport Gymnastics

How long have you been doing gymnastics?

I did gymnastics from preschool to fourth grade and then I broke my ankle on the beam and had to quit.

What made you rejoin gymnastics?

Gymnastics is such a different sport for me. You have a team, but it’s pretty much individual. You perform what you know how to do, and when you get a new skill it’s the best feeling. I love going to practice and not having to think about what’s going on outside of gymnastics. When I’m there, all my stress just rolls away and I feel at home.

What do you like about gymnastics?

I’ve always loved (gymnastics) and continued to go to trampoline parks and still try new tricks. This year my friend Annie Breyak and I decided we wanted to come back and see what we could do.

What is your favorite event to compete in?

I really love vault. The sprinting to the springboard and then flying over it gives me a rush of adrenaline I can’t get from anything else.

Who is your role model in gymnastics and why?

I don’t really have a role model. Even though I just met most of the girls on the team — on the high school team — this year, I look up to all of them and I get so happy when they get a new skill they’ve been working on it pushes me to do even better.

What is your favorite memory from Gymnastics so far?

My favorite memory from gymnastics would have to be when I was in kindergarten and had my first meet. I was terrified of competing because I hated people watching me and clapping for me, but I ended up winning the meet.

What are you hoping to achieve this gymnastics season?

I’m hoping to (learn) as many new skills as I can and enjoy the season and have fun with the team.

 How do you prepare yourself before meets?

I haven’t competed yet since I’m new, (but) I’m trying to get routines together.

What is the hardest thing about gymnastics?

The hardest thing is that (gymnastics is) an individual sport, so when you keep failing at a new skill it’s really frustrating to not be able to do it when you try so hard. It’s also every day so I’m sore a lot but it’s all worth it.