University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Cory A. Cole
Quick Chat: Sabrina Vega
December 07, 2017 | Gymnastics, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Outgoing and upbeat, Georgia Gymdog Sabrina Vega is a compelling performer and a fun interview subject.
A sophomore from Carmel, N.Y., about 60 miles north of Madison Square Garden, Vega placed 10th at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. She competed on beam 13 times and on floor 12 times as a freshman last season, winning two events on floor.
Before she and the Gymdogs offer up a glimpse of the season ahead with Saturday's First Look at Stegeman Coliseum (4 p.m.), Vega sat down Wednesday for a Quick Chat. Vega talked about presents, traveling, becoming part of the Bulldog family and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: Since the holidays are not that far down the road, what's the best present you've ever received?
Vega: Probably my first cell phone would be the most awesome present, because then you feel like an adult, like, "Oh, wow, I got my first cell phone — I'm pretty cool."
Frierson: Do you remember your first cell phone?
Vega: I do, it was the pink [Motorola] Razr. It was the little flip phone and I felt so cool. And it was pink.
Frierson: What is the best present you've ever given someone, where you were like, I nailed that?
Vega: I like to say all the presents I give people, because I put a lot of thought and effort behind my presents. I don't know, I can't think of one specific present. I always try to put my heart in it and try to make it really personal.
Frierson: Tell me about home, Carmel, N.Y. What comes to mind when you think of home?
Vega: I feel like Carmel's like a small town, so you kind of know everyone and everyone knows what's going on in your life. I always had that hometown support from everybody growing up and training for the Olympics and everything.
Even now, you go into the hometown deli and everyone knows you and supports you.
Frierson: How big a part of Manhattan was your life growing up?
Vega: I was born in Manhattan but we've lived up in Carmel since I was 4, when my brother was born. It's more of a suburb area. ... I still do like going into the city, which is funny because my parents were born and raised in the city, so it was nothing new, but for me and my brother it's always really fun to go down there. Times Square's always beautiful to see.
Frierson: Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world? And who would you take with you?
Vega: I've traveled so much for competition over the years, but I've never really gotten to experience traveling as a vacation. It was always more like a job, so you're going on a business trip.
I've always wanted to go to Spain — I don't know why but Spain has always been a place I wanted to visit. I would also really like to go back to Italy and France. And I'd like to take my mom.
Frierson: Anywhere in particular in Italy?
Vega: Definitely Venice. I've been to Venice but it was for gymnastics, where you go in, look around real quick and then you have to go back to the hotel and rest for competition. I always wanted to take my mom there.
Frierson: Who's the funniest or most interesting player on the team?
Vega: Probably Emily Schild. She's got the bubbly personality and she's like my little sister on the team. It's funny, a lot of people say that when you think of Emily you think of Sabrina, always dancing and joking around, with a smile on her face and making people laugh.
Frierson: Where does that come from, that bubbly personality and enthusiasm? Does that come out mainly when you're out there doing what you love or is that you all the time?
Vega: I think for me that's always been my personality. In the gym, growing up, I was always very serious. It was something that, you had a job to do. Now, in college, I've come to love the sport again, so I do have that bubbly personality in the gym because I am enjoying gymnastics. Practice is so much more fun for me and I'm enjoying the team and the atmosphere.
Frierson: What's something from your childhood that you really miss?
Vega: My childhood, it's kind of sad but it was just gymnastics (laughs). Gymnastics has been a huge part of life. I guess just being with family; as I got older I was traveling a lot more and always in the gym, and now I'm in college, so I kind of miss those Saturdays and Sundays at my uncle's house, just the family together.
Frierson: If there's one athletic feat that you could do just once, just to experience it, what would it be?
Vega: I don't know, I would kind of like to experience scoring a touchdown. I mean, I always watch Georgia football and I've always wanted to experience what it feels like to catch a touchdown in the end zone. What does that feel like?
You caught it and you got the touchdown and everybody's screaming. What does that feel like? It's kind of different from when you stick a landing in gymnastics. What does it feel like?
Frierson: But, sticking a landing in front of 10,000 fans in Stegeman Coliseum is still pretty good.
Vega: It's still pretty exciting, for sure.
Frierson: Growing up in New York, I'm sure you never thought about cheering passionately for the Georgia Bulldogs. What's it like to come here and it's "Go Dawgs!" all the time and everything you're wearing has a "G" on it?
Is that an immediate thing? I grew up here so it's been with me from the beginning.
Vega: For me, growing up, I never really thought of college gymnastics. That just wasn't ... my goal was to make it to the Olympics, that is what I was striving for. When the plans changed and I decided to come to college and do college gymnastics, it was something, the minute you commit it's like it's in you.
It was kind of weird because when I first stepped on campus I didn't own one thing that said Georgia on it, and I left with three; and I came back the next year and it's just part of who you are. I guess that's kind of the Bulldog family — once you commit, it's something that's just you, you're just part of it.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
UGAAA Staff Writer
Outgoing and upbeat, Georgia Gymdog Sabrina Vega is a compelling performer and a fun interview subject.
A sophomore from Carmel, N.Y., about 60 miles north of Madison Square Garden, Vega placed 10th at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. She competed on beam 13 times and on floor 12 times as a freshman last season, winning two events on floor.
Before she and the Gymdogs offer up a glimpse of the season ahead with Saturday's First Look at Stegeman Coliseum (4 p.m.), Vega sat down Wednesday for a Quick Chat. Vega talked about presents, traveling, becoming part of the Bulldog family and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: Since the holidays are not that far down the road, what's the best present you've ever received?
Vega: Probably my first cell phone would be the most awesome present, because then you feel like an adult, like, "Oh, wow, I got my first cell phone — I'm pretty cool."
Frierson: Do you remember your first cell phone?
Vega: I do, it was the pink [Motorola] Razr. It was the little flip phone and I felt so cool. And it was pink.
Frierson: What is the best present you've ever given someone, where you were like, I nailed that?
Vega: I like to say all the presents I give people, because I put a lot of thought and effort behind my presents. I don't know, I can't think of one specific present. I always try to put my heart in it and try to make it really personal.
Frierson: Tell me about home, Carmel, N.Y. What comes to mind when you think of home?
Vega: I feel like Carmel's like a small town, so you kind of know everyone and everyone knows what's going on in your life. I always had that hometown support from everybody growing up and training for the Olympics and everything.
Even now, you go into the hometown deli and everyone knows you and supports you.
Frierson: How big a part of Manhattan was your life growing up?
Vega: I was born in Manhattan but we've lived up in Carmel since I was 4, when my brother was born. It's more of a suburb area. ... I still do like going into the city, which is funny because my parents were born and raised in the city, so it was nothing new, but for me and my brother it's always really fun to go down there. Times Square's always beautiful to see.
Frierson: Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world? And who would you take with you?
Vega: I've traveled so much for competition over the years, but I've never really gotten to experience traveling as a vacation. It was always more like a job, so you're going on a business trip.
I've always wanted to go to Spain — I don't know why but Spain has always been a place I wanted to visit. I would also really like to go back to Italy and France. And I'd like to take my mom.
Frierson: Anywhere in particular in Italy?
Vega: Definitely Venice. I've been to Venice but it was for gymnastics, where you go in, look around real quick and then you have to go back to the hotel and rest for competition. I always wanted to take my mom there.
Frierson: Who's the funniest or most interesting player on the team?
Vega: Probably Emily Schild. She's got the bubbly personality and she's like my little sister on the team. It's funny, a lot of people say that when you think of Emily you think of Sabrina, always dancing and joking around, with a smile on her face and making people laugh.
Frierson: Where does that come from, that bubbly personality and enthusiasm? Does that come out mainly when you're out there doing what you love or is that you all the time?
Vega: I think for me that's always been my personality. In the gym, growing up, I was always very serious. It was something that, you had a job to do. Now, in college, I've come to love the sport again, so I do have that bubbly personality in the gym because I am enjoying gymnastics. Practice is so much more fun for me and I'm enjoying the team and the atmosphere.
Frierson: What's something from your childhood that you really miss?
Vega: My childhood, it's kind of sad but it was just gymnastics (laughs). Gymnastics has been a huge part of life. I guess just being with family; as I got older I was traveling a lot more and always in the gym, and now I'm in college, so I kind of miss those Saturdays and Sundays at my uncle's house, just the family together.
Frierson: If there's one athletic feat that you could do just once, just to experience it, what would it be?
Vega: I don't know, I would kind of like to experience scoring a touchdown. I mean, I always watch Georgia football and I've always wanted to experience what it feels like to catch a touchdown in the end zone. What does that feel like?
You caught it and you got the touchdown and everybody's screaming. What does that feel like? It's kind of different from when you stick a landing in gymnastics. What does it feel like?
Frierson: But, sticking a landing in front of 10,000 fans in Stegeman Coliseum is still pretty good.
Vega: It's still pretty exciting, for sure.
Frierson: Growing up in New York, I'm sure you never thought about cheering passionately for the Georgia Bulldogs. What's it like to come here and it's "Go Dawgs!" all the time and everything you're wearing has a "G" on it?
Is that an immediate thing? I grew up here so it's been with me from the beginning.
Vega: For me, growing up, I never really thought of college gymnastics. That just wasn't ... my goal was to make it to the Olympics, that is what I was striving for. When the plans changed and I decided to come to college and do college gymnastics, it was something, the minute you commit it's like it's in you.
It was kind of weird because when I first stepped on campus I didn't own one thing that said Georgia on it, and I left with three; and I came back the next year and it's just part of who you are. I guess that's kind of the Bulldog family — once you commit, it's something that's just you, you're just part of it.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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