Interview with Taylor Lngid

. What age did you start gymnastics?: 5

2. How did you start in gymnastics?:

My parents thought i was clumsy and wanted to put me in it to help that.

When I first began it was me and my older  sisters but i’m the only one who fell in love with it.

3. How did you deal with mental blocks?:

Mental blocks were not a huge problem in my gymnastics journey but when they did come around, I had to tell myself that my coaches would not let me try something if they did not believe that I could do it. This would allow me to calm down and overcome those fears. A lot easier said than done!!

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

I would say many of my role models were the people I trained with and some of my best friends. This included people like Bella Salcedo, Frankie Price, and Morgan Price. These people not only worked hard inside the gym but were also phenomenal people.

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

My biggest struggle was comparing myself to the people I was around. I was a late bloomer in the sport of gymnastics and while all of my teammates were committed to huge colleges in 8th grade/ freshman year I thought I would never be good enough to make it to the next level. This killed my confidence for years, but also motivated me to work harder to accomplish all the dreams I had for myself.

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

Handling nerves in club gymnastics was very difficult because I always felt like if I failed, I would be letting someone down or being a disappointment to my coaches or parents, but as I got older , I realized that We are all on the same team and everyone knows that no matter what I am going to give every routine my all. This helped calm me down because I knew no matter what they would love me, support me, and encourage me to get back up and work hard to be better the next time.

7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?:

My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics has been coming to a D1 university and being able to contribute to the team in competitions!

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

I am still competing at the collegiate level, but afterwards I plan on becoming a nurse.

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

I would say people need to know that it is a hard sport and can be very frustrating at times, but if you work hard it can also be the most rewarding sport. Hard work in gymnastics does not go unnoticed even if you aren’t the best on your team or in your gym, if you work hard, you will

be remembered and so approciated.

10. What is your favorite meet? :

my favorite meet in club gymnastics was the meet that my gym hosted(Texas Prime meet)my favorite meet so far in my college career has been our competition at denver or any home meet!!

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

In the beginning I let it stress me out in the gym during training, but I have always been a game day gymnastic and usually handle pressure decently well. Again, it is all about trusting your training and that you are there for a purpose and telling yourself that you have no other option but to make it and do your absolute best.

12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?:

Work harder. My goal everyday when I train is to be the hardest worker. Doesn’t matter if i’m injured or tired or have a mental block, whatever I can do, I will be working as hard as i can. This allows those setbacks and challenges to not seem so big and scary because in one way or another you are getting better/stronger.

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

yes!! after my crazy dreams of wanting to be an olympian went away, That was my only goal with gymnastics.

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

Least favorite- vault

Just feel like there is nothing special about vault and it has always been really hard for me. Favorite- Floor or bars

Enjoy the performance factor of floor and getting to be authentically you, but bars has always been so fun for me because if how different it is from the other events and how you feel like you’re flying.

15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train? :

Hardest- probably getting consistent in single bar releases on bars. These are just really frustrating but once you get it you get it.

Easiest- For me, any twisting in floor but my favorite is back 2 1/2!!

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

Again, not something I struggled with a lot, but just telling myself that I just have to do one and get it over with(kinda like rip the bandaid off)

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

I pray a lot during training and competitions which allows me to trust that God has a plan in all that I do and that allows me to focus on Him instead of myself.

18. Have any of you got a skill for a few weeks on any event and then a week or to later you just cant do it?

This just goes along with how frustrating this sport can be and how you have to truly learn yourself. When this would happen I would have to evaluate what I am doing differently or what changed from then to know and kind of adjust to the new situations, but also listening to your coaches and what they have to say because they simply tell you facts when you might be getting in your head and making the skill more confusing.

19.  How did you cope when your time as a gymnast was over? Did you go into coaching or did you soemthing different?

Again, I am still training so I am not sure yet.

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

Gymnastics is a great sport, not only to have fun and learn cool tricks but I truly believe that it shapes you into such a well rounded person and develops hard work, accountability, respect, and how to overcome obstacles.