When I first turned elite in gymnastics, when I was 14, that's when I really became more inspired than ever. I just always kept that in the back of my mind, and always thought about making the 2012 team.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
My entire adolescence was geared toward one thing: gymnastics.
I've always lived my gymnastics career with a lot of passion and a lot of purpose.
What I'm interested in is the fascinating image of young leaders... you know, young people leading in different fields. You see athletes and people in gymnastics, where the requirement is that you are supple and very, very young... 11... and by the time you're 14, you're already over the hill.
I loved gymnastics. I was eager to compete. I was hungry to go out there and be the best in the world, and I had that determination.
I have always been a huge fan of gymnastics.
I started taking gymnastic classes when I was 3 years old.
My parents enrolled me in a gymnastics class when I was three years old, and I just was drawn to gymnastics. I loved it. It was my playground, and I could run around and be free there.
It always has been a goal of mine to compete in the Olympics. Right after I graduated from college, I moved out to Salt Lake City with my mind focused on making the 2014 team.
At 14, you think you compete, you retire and you get a job. I didn't think gymnastics was a career that was going to change my life.
When I was young I wanted to be a gymnast. I used to compete at it, but then I grew too tall.