Video highlights from Gymnast.com
Do you know any words in Chinese?
I know “hello.”
What did you do between the final selection camp and leaving again?
Before I left, my gym threw me a little going away party.
How did you pack for such a long trip?
I packed everything in plastic bags. Everything is in its own little plastic bag. And I also have some net bags that I packed things in.
Did you bring anything special from home?
I brought a charm that was given to me by my neighbor who went to war. He had a St. Matthew medal. He gave it to me for good luck because he said that it brought him luck when he was fighting.
How do you plan to keep yourself occupied during the long flights?
My IPod, my computer. I was going to bring a deck of cards, but I knew I wouldn’t use them. I’ll really just listen to music and sleep.
Did you bring any books with you?
I forgot my books, so I have to buy them.
How many of your family members are able to make the trip to Beijing?
Five. My whole family.
Other than competition, what are you most looking forward to at the Olympic Games?
Shopping.
What is the best thing about staying in the Athlete Village?
Just being around the other athletes.
How did it feel when you were named to the team?
Incredible. We are so ready for this competition. It’s an honor to be mentioned as one of the Olympic athletes.
What was it like waiting for them to name the team?
Very nerve racking. We were all sitting in the room and we were very nervous. We didn’t know what was going to go on. Being able to sit in there and then have them call our names was remarkable.
Is it a lot of pressure having to perform at the Olympics?
It is, but in the same way I’ve prepared for this for 16 years. We’ve been working so hard for this and it’s all come together like a big puzzle. We’ve had pieces that didn’t match and we all put it together for this one moment.
What do you think about the team?
This is such a strong team. We have great athletes on every event. It’s remarkable how much chemistry we have. We’re so ready. As Alicia (Sacramone) would say, ‘We’re bringin’ it.’ That’s our new slogan.
