Interview with Aydon (Fuzzy) Benas

1. What age did you start gymnastics?

8 months old

2. How did you start in gymnastics?

Both of my parents did it and were D1 through college.

3. How did you deal with mental blocks?

Mental discipline and fortitude.

4. Who was your role model/someone you looked uo to in the sport?

Raj Bavzar, Sam Mikulak, Paul Hamm

5. What was your hardest struggle during your time as a gymnast?

dealing with injuries

6. How do you handle nerves when you are competing?

I let them fuel me

7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?

Placing 6th at Olympic Trials in 2024

8. What did you do after you were done competing? Did you stay involved or did you do something totally different?

I'm still competing.

9. What would people need to know if you are starting the sport for the first time?

it sucks 95% of the time but that last 5% makes everything worth it if you're willing to do what it takes.

10. What is your favorite meet?

HNI

11. How did you handle pressure form peers/coaches/fans?

I tune them out while competing.

12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?

With the right mental attitude and perseverance.

13. Did college gymnastics ever cross your mind as something you wanted to do?

Yes and I currently go to OU.

14. Least favorite event and favorite event? And Why?

High har because it just makes sense to me and is the most fun.

15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train?

Hardest : healy.. dont ask Easiest: Peaches on Pbars

16. How did/do you deal with getting in your head on skills?

take a step back and redo drills as needed

17. How did you stay out of your head at practice and at meet?

pretending I was at a competition while showing my coaches in practice.

18. Have any of you got a skill for a few weeks on any event and then a week or to later you just can't do it? If this has happened to you how have you dealt with it or overcome it?

go back and do drills.

19. How did you cope when your time as a gymnast was over? Did you go into coaching or did you find something else to fill what gymnastics filled?

I have coached and would like to when I am done.

20. Advice you would give to current or people who want to start in the sport?

Don't start if you're not willing to make sacrifices.