Interview with Oklahoma gymnast Keira Wells

1. What age did you start gymnastics?

3 years old

2. How did you start in gymnastics?

My mom put me in gymnastics because I was jumping off of things and loved to swing on the monkey bars.

3. How did you deal with mental blocks?

I go back to the basics and visualize the skill.

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

Laurie Hernandez

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

My hardest struggle during my time as a gymnast was learning a yurchenko vault.

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

I trust in my coaches and in myself that I am prepared. I also know that I have done this routine a million times and it is just one more time.

7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?

My biggest accomplishment is being second team All-American on vault.

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

I stay involved, I love hanging out with my teammates and seeing girls who I have competed with in JO.

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

This sport takes hard work and dedication.

10. What is your favorite meet?

My favorite meets are home meets.

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

I know that I have worked so hard and have done so many routines and my coaches have done an amazing job preparing me.

12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?

I overcome setbacks and challenges by communicating with my coaches and always having my teammates by my side.

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

Yes

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

Bars, I have a lot of power and love to show my power. Bars is different from all the other events.

15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train?

The easiest skill to train is a yurchenko one and a half. The hardest skill to train is full in on bars.

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

I would repeat something in my mind to help me not think about the skill.

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

Not holding back because when I was scared to make a mistake, I would make a mistake.

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?

No

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

I love to see how much this sport is growing. I hope people can find the love in gymnastics like I have.