Interview With OU Gymnast Nathan Roman

1. What age did you start gymnastics?

4

2. How did you start in gymnastics?

When we moved the previous owners left a trampoline in the yard and I found myself trying to do flips on it. My parents saw this and didn’t want me to get hurt so they put me in the nearest gym and it just took off from there

3. How did you deal with mental blocks?

Going back to the basics was helpful but also just repetition for me was the main thing that helped. The more I did something the more my confidence built back up

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

Sam mikulak was my role model growing up.

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

Being scared of events and different skills were hard. I was afraid of everything on high bar and lots of skills on parallel bars

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

Listening to music is big for me and calming my nerves. During nationals in 2025 I listened to one song on repeat like 20 times

7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?

I’d say my biggest accomplishment is being on different teams. The teams I’ve been on have allowed me to grow as a team player and a person.

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

I’m not done competing yet but when I do I would like to coach or just be around the sport in any way I can

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

They would need to know about the struggles and setbacks that will happen.

10. What is your favorite meet?

My favorite meet is the DTB pokal competition in Germany. The atmosphere there is unreal and so electric!

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

Listening to music or just being around teammates to lift the mood helped with any nervousness or pressure

12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?

I’ve learned from setbacks and challenges to not take it so personally and to, like my dad says “check it at the door” which means throw away any problems or frustration away so you don’t go into the next event or the next practice with frustration from challenges

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

Yes, college gymnastics has been one of the top goals of mine

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

My least favorite event is vault and my favorite event is parallel bars because I feel like I understand it the most

15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train?

The hardest I would say is a tak on high bar and the easiest is scissor on pommel horse

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

Like I said before after “checking it at the door” I was able to shake off setbacks and frustration which helped a lot. I also just used it as motivation to work harder

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

Being surrounded by teammates or people that lift the mood up helps a lot

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?

Yes it has happened to me on a tak on high bar and I’m still dealing with it

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?

I want to be an Olympian and I want to win a NCAA championship

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

If it crosses ur mind then go for it! It is one of the best sports that will allow you to thrive in anything else!