University of Georgia Athletics
Ask Suzanne
February 13, 2006 | Gymnastics
Feb. 13, 2006
Hi Suzanne! I am a huge fan of your program. I actually met you many years ago at a gymnastics camp. I was a Division I gymnast, and since my graduation from college, I have not lost any of my love for the sport.
As they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. I was wondering what your strength and conditioning program is like outside the gym. Do your girls run? Lift? Thanks. I wish you only the best this season! Alison in Pittsburgh, PA
Dear Alison: Thank you so much for continuing to follow our team.
I am very proud of the fitness and strength of our team this year. In the fall, they did strength training three days a week and cardio three days a week. Their strength workout is a circuit which includes a combination of different things. They do repetitions with some free weights but mainly do exercises with their own body weight. We have a "vertimax" in our gym which is awesome for leg explosiveness.
Their cardio program is very diverse. It includes "high-low", kick boxing, hip hop dancing, and spinning. All fall, the girls run sprints. During season, they do no running.
They look great this year, don't you think?
If the first gymnast or the first and second gymnast don't perform their routine(s)well and come away with a "low" score, does that change the strategy for the routines for the rest of the rotation (by doing a safer routine) or do the remaining gymnasts stick with their original routines? Richard in McDonough, GA
Dear Richard: In general, the gymnasts' routines will not change because of a previous gymnast's score. There are a few occasions where we have some alternate tumbling passes or dismounts on beam which can be changed depending on the situation. For instance, in the Alabama meet, last up, Courtney Kupets could have competed one of two dismounts. We needed the highest score possible in order to clinch the win so I asked Courtney to do the dismount which she sticks the most. So, because of the closeness of the competition with Alabama, Courtney dismounted the beam with a gainer layout full instead of her double back.
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