Interview With Kai Cadavid

1. What age did you start gymnastics?

7

2. How did you start in gymnastics?

Sibling inspired me

3. How did you deal with mental blocks?

Going back to the basics and repetition

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

Khoi Young

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

Fear stopped me from trying skills that my coaches though I was capable of getting.

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

Not making a big deal out of it. Simply treating routines the same as I do in practice, nothing more.

7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?

Placing top 10 AA at 2026 Dev Nationals

8. When you were done competing in the sport? Did you stay involved in it with coaching etc?

I’m still a gymnast

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

Strong basics are the key to getting bigger skills

10. What is your favorite meet?

Atlantis Crown Invitational

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

Realizing that at the end of the day, these people that are making me feel nervous are the same people that have my back.

12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?

By being patient. Never rush yourself, it’s a recipe for disaster.

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

Yes.

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

My favorite is floor because it has always felt the most natural to me. My least favorite is rings because it hurts and I’ve never been good at it.

15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train?

Hardest: Anything on pommels Easiest: Standing back tuck

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

Simplifying it, assuring yourself that you know how to do it.

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

Again, not making a big deal out of it.

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?

I have, taking videos to analyze the skill with my coaches helped me, it lets me see what I’m doing wrong.

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’m still a gymnast

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

Have a successful senior season and join a college team

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

Don’t let fear stop you from trying new things.