University of Georgia Athletics
Get to Know Jordyn Pedersen
September 15, 2016 | Gymnastics
From a tumbling tot to a determined dog
By: Ashleigh Shay, UGA Sports Communications Student Assistant
Freshman Jordyn Pedersen started her gymnastics career at a young age, begrudgingly. Her mother signed the two of them up for a mom and tots class. Pedersen, at the time, was not the biggest fan.
"My coach, Toni Norman, would drag me into that gym but she physically made me strong," said Pedersen. "It got to the point when I was about 8 years old and my mom asked ‘do you still want to quit Jordyn?' and I was like ‘you know what, no, not really.'"
From that point on she trained with the same team for years. She won gold for Ontario in Canada. And then she decided to go somewhere completely new, which brings her to where she is today.
That's something that takes a lot of strength and positivity. Something Pedersen has ample amounts of.
"Having a positive image is probably one of the best things I can say about myself," said Pedersen. "I always try to smile and show that you don't need to surround yourself with negative energy and it's always good to be positive. If you're having a bad day, you know what? Look at the bright side, look at the better things, and say, ‘this is an experience' and move on from it."
Being positive and strong is easier said than done in a new place. It takes a while to find where you fit in and feel comfortable. Pedersen, however, knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
"When I first walked on campus on my unofficial visit," said Pedersen. "I had this gut instinct that this could be my second home."
Home is where your family is. And Pedersen has found her home away from home here with the Gymdogs.
"My head coach Danna Durante is my emergency contact down here," said Pedersen. "My parents are 16 hours away and if any emergency happens, my family is here now."
The dynamic of being part of a team was also important to Pedersen. While she did represent Canada on the Canadian team, she did it as an individual. Now she has the chance to represent Georgia as part of the Gymdogs.
"Here I'm representing the Gymdogs, plural," said Pedersen. "So yes I am the individual on the apparatus but at the end of the day it's going toward the team score instead of my individual score."
So in leaving her home of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Pedersen has found her family and her team. She also found something she never had - a sisterhood.
"These girls are my sisters," said Pedersen. "I truly feel that because we share absolutely everything. These are experiences that you have together that build a bond and that's going to last a lifetime."
Long ago, that lifetime started with a mom and tots class. Pedersen credits where she is today because of the way her parents allowed her to grow and experience things around her.
"I couldn't be here without my parents," said Pedersen. "They're a big influence on my life but they let me become my own individual. They weren't like ‘Jordyn you can't do this, you cant do that.' They were like ‘Jordyn, you want to do that? Fine. But tell me if it a good thing or a bad thing.'"
She now knows that her parents saw the confidence in her that she recognizes in herself. They gave her the tools to see what she could be and from that she has also realized what she can do.
"It comes from your own desire of wanting to push yourself," said Pedersen. "Obviously there are days where you might mentally not be there but you physically have to be there. Overcoming those challenges and those days shows you what you can become."
Players Mentioned
