University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldog Tatiana Gusin: Beyond The Track
January 13, 2017 | Track & Field
Bulldog senior high jumper Tatiana Gusin begins her senior season as a three-time First Team All-American, including a runner-up finish at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships. After redshirting last outdoor season while rehabbing from an injury, Gusin started her 2017 campaign by taking the collegiate lead and moving into the No. 2 spot on the world this year with a career-best clearance of 6 feet, 2 ¾ inches to win the Orange & Purple Classic last weekend in Clemson, S.C.
Here is a glimpse at Tatiana Gusin beyond the track:
Georgiadogs.com: What was it like growing up in Moldova (an Eastern European country located between Romania and Ukraine)?
TG: I was born there and it is a totally different place. It's a different type of lifestyle, but looking back on it I enjoyed it so much. The little things like being barefoot and running around fields, having animals to take care of because we lived on a farm. I loved my chickens! Money was not the first thing to come along. My mother was trying to get money together and raise me so we lived with my grandparents and they took good care of me. I guess what I remember most was the freedom to run around fields.
Georgiadogs.com: What is your fondest memory from your childhood?
TG: I lived in a small village and there were no limitations. I was 5 years old and able to go everywhere in the village. During the summer all the kids in the village would gather together, maybe eight or nine of us, and we would play hide and seek all over the village. It was always hard to find everyone but it was also fun. It always took a good couple of hours to find everyone.
Georgiadogs.com: Who was the most motivating/influential/inspiring person for you growing up?
TG: Later in my life, I moved to Greece and I would have to say my second coach (Ioanna Siomou). She got me when I was 17, and I had just had my first "good jump" and I decided to switch coaches. She took me in even though my technique was bad, everything was bad. She was more of a mother figure to me and motivated me. Coach helped me through injuries and encouraged me to control my weight because I am a high jumper. She was constantly there for me as my second mother. Coach was the person who encouraged me most to come here and gain an education while pursuing track.
Georgiadogs.com: What interested you in track? When did you start? And why did you pick high jump?
TG: I was in middle school, as you guys call it, and I was playing basketball in athletic school. I kind of liked it but our director was changing and a new coach came along and he told me I looked like a high jumper. My first reaction was, "What is the high jump?" So he told me to come to his gym with my mother and he showed me the track stadium and the high jump pit and explained to me what the point of the high jump was. And I thought it was cool and exciting because we got the opportunity to travel a lot and that was incredibly appealing to me. I liked traveling a lot.
Georgiadogs.com: Why did you pick the University of Georgia?
TG: There are many reasons! (Bulldog head coach) Petros Kyprianou was the first one and Leontia Kallenou (three-time NCAA champion), the high jumper who recently graduated, was another. I always wanted a high jump buddy who I could practice with because back home I was always jumping by myself. And Georgia Stefanidi, who was already in Athens, has been my best friend for about six years in total but for the three years before I got here as well. Another thing was the climate, it is so warm always and nice. I liked the facilities, especially the dorms that are very nice. It was mostly the people that I loved the most.
Georgiadogs.com: Why did you pick Communications/ Journalism as your major?
TG: Coming to UGA I wanted to pursue photography more because I have always had an interest in it. But I felt I needed to add more to it so I'm now pursuing photojournalism. I have many dreams about where I want to go with it but I would like to go pro in track first. I want to go into wildlife photography because I love animals, like I said before. Also traveling is a large passion of mine, so potentially being a travel blogger. But I haven't truly picked what I want to do yet.
Georgiadogs.com: Where is your favorite place to eat in Athens?
TG: Here in Athens, Georgia? Or in Athens, Greece? (laughter) I really like Italian food because the Greek food here is not like it is at home. I think DePalmas is one of my favorites. Oh and Porterhouse for brunch!
Georgiadogs.com: When you aren't training what can you be found doing?
TG: I am usually hanging out with my friends, either taking pictures or playing games. I love games. We play Catan a lot and Monopoly Deal. We are incredibly social in Greece so having Georgia (Stefanidi) here with me who is also from Greece is really nice.
Georgiadogs.com: Do you have any hidden talents?
TG: I guess I'd like to think the fact that I can take care of animals is kind of a hidden talent, or my photography skills.
Georgiadogs.com: Where has been the most interesting place you have traveled to? Why?
TG: I would say Barcelona, Spain, because I have some of my best memories there. That was my first World Championship and Georgia (Stefanidi) was there with me, we were rooming. We had lots of downtime so we got to go to all the tourist spots, and try everything, it was such an amazing experience. We were there for six days and that is where Petros found me and recruited me, so I have incredible memories in Spain.
Players Mentioned
