Where are you originally from?
Des Moines, Iowa. I was born there and still live there.
How old were you when you first started gymnastics?
I started taking gymnastic classes when I was 3 years old.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue athletics at this level?
When I was little, I just did it because I loved it. When I started getting to the higher levels, I started thinking about making the Elite, so I put in more hours and learned more skills.
How many hours a day do you spend training?
Most Elite athletes train about 45 hours a week, but my parents want me to have a “normal life,” so they limit my training to 25 hours a week. I usually work out 4 hours a day during the week and 5 to 6 hours on Saturday, with Sundays off. A typical practice consists of practicing every event for about an hour. A lot of people assume I have private coaching, but I work out with 13 other girls at the gym!
How do you eat to stay at your healthiest?
I pay attention to my diet to be a healthier gymnast, but I’m not obsessive over it.
What’s your favorite food indulgence?
I don’t think of them as indulgences but I do have some favorite foods—chicken and steak kebabs, peaches and cream, and corn on the cob.
What do you like to do when you’re not training?
I love to horseback ride, hang out with friends, and my mom and I love to scrapbook.
Do you have a good luck charm?
I always travel with my blankets—but I don’t believe in good luck charms.
Who are your biggest cheerleaders?
My mom, dad and—of course—my coach!
What is your favorite competitive memory?
The 2008 Olympics, of course!