When I was younger, I did not have the strength to jump well enough, but over the years I have gained that, worked on it. But the sensibility you simply have to have.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Growing up as a high jumper, I said if I could ever jump 2.40, I'd be pretty satisfied with my career. It's definitely a barrier for high jumpers.
High jump is such a mental thing. It's you against the bar. It's something that a lot of people struggle with, and people experience slumps and plateaus because of it.
Jumping isn't as important to my training as you might think; I'm only in the sandpit once a week. There's a high risk factor of injury doing it, so instead, I rely on my progress in the gym to judge how far I'll jump on the big day.
I grew up with an older brother who was always stronger and faster and better than me at everything, but I was close enough in age to try and compete, so we had a competitive childhood.
Growing up, when I was younger, I didn't feel all that tough or smart or strong. As I got older, I was able to discover my own strength.
You have to train hard and be strong while staying flexible and limber, so I'm trying to find that balance.
The important thing is to build up my cardiovascular system, so I have the stamina to do stunts. To me, stepping over the line, taking a chance and succeeding is the ultimate freedom, be it in rock and roll or when executing a really challenging routine.
When I was younger, I used to be a high jumper before I switched to hurdles.
Can I jump over two or three guys like I used to? No. Am I as fast as I used to be? No, but I still have the fundamentals and smarts. That's what enables me to still be a dominant player. As a kid growing up, I never skipped steps. I always worked on fundamentals because I know athleticism is fleeting.
I'd say I'm quite powerful so I'm not afraid of jumps or acrobatic elements. The hardest part is... get on the beam and stay there on top of it!