Interview With Ashlyn Jensen

How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport?

I started gymnastics when I was 4 years old, and I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember. What started as something fun to do when I was little quickly became such a big part of my life. I loved learning new skills and challenging myself, and as I got older, my love for the sport continued to grow. I never imagined at 4 years old that gymnastics would take me as far as it has!

What was your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained?

My favorite meet was the Tim Rand Invitational this past season because I scored a 9.8 on beam, which was my highest beam score ever! It was such a rewarding moment, and it’s definitely a meet I’ll always remember. My favorite event is beam, and my least favorite is floor. The easiest skill I’ve trained is a front toss on beam, and the hardest skill I’ve trained is a front handspring pike-half on vault.

Gymnastics is incredibly mental. What was your hardest struggle during your time as a gymnast? How did you deal with nerves, pressure, and getting in your head or temporarily "losing" a skill?

One of my biggest struggles in gymnastics has definitely been the mental side of the sport, especially when it comes to fear and trusting myself. When I was younger, I was terrified of backward tumbling, and there were times when I struggled to believe I could do certain skills. Over time, I learned that the best way to overcome those fears was to trust my coaches, be patient with myself, and take things one step at a time. Gymnastics has taught me that not every day is going to be a good day, and sometimes you have to push through the mental challenges just as much as the physical ones. Looking back, it’s pretty crazy that I went from being scared of backward tumbling to competing a double back!

What was your biggest accomplishment in the sport, and did you ever want to do college gymnastics?

My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics has been committing to the University of Minnesota to continue my gymnastics career. Competing in college has been a dream of mine ever since I was little, so being able to make that dream a reality means so much to me. There have been so many ups and downs throughout my gymnastics career, including injuries and setbacks, but knowing that all of my hard work has led me to this opportunity makes everything worth it. I’m so excited to continue doing the sport I love at Minnesota!

How did you cope when your time as a gymnast ended, and did you transition into coaching or are you currently still competing?

I’m currently still competing as a Level 10 gymnast and getting ready to continue my gymnastics career at the University of Minnesota! I’ve also had the opportunity to coach younger gymnasts, which has given me a completely different perspective on the sport. I love being able to share what I’ve learned throughout my gymnastics career and help younger gymnasts develop the same love for the sport that I’ve always had.

Who was your gymnastics role model, and what advice would you give to someone starting the sport for the first time?

My gymnastics role model growing up was Haleigh Bryant because she did so many of her skills going forward. Since I struggled with fears of backward tumbling, watching her succeed at such a high level showed me that there were different ways to be successful in gymnastics. She inspired me to keep chasing my dreams and reminded me that having fears doesn’t mean I can’t accomplish my goals. My advice to someone just starting gymnastics would be to enjoy every moment and not put too much pressure on yourself. Gymnastics is a really challenging sport, and there are going to be good days and bad days, but it’s important to remember why you started. Don’t compare your progress to anyone else’s, trust your coaches, and never let fear stop you from trying something new. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the little moments because the years go by faster than you think!

What two goals you want to achieve in the sport of gymnastics?

Two goals I want to achieve in gymnastics are to contribute to my team’s success at the University of Minnesota and to continue growing as a gymnast. Competing in college has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, so I want to make the most of every opportunity and enjoy every moment of the experience. I also hope to inspire younger gymnasts to chase their dreams and show them that even when things get difficult, anything is possible if they keep working hard and believe in themselves.