University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Haley De Jong
February 03, 2020 | Gymnastics, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Haley De Jong is from Vancouver, one of the best cities in the world and probably my favorite in North America. A Georgia gymnastics freshman, she posted 9.850s on beam and bars during the Gymdogs' win over Auburn on Sunday, the Canadian is a long way from home.
During a Quick Chat last week, we talked about Vancouver, including the legendary and legendarily difficult Grouse Grind — the hardest 2.9 kilometers you'll likely ever run or walk — as well as her start in gymnastics, competing for Canada's national team, adjusting to college life and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: How have you handled the adjustment to college life so far?
De Jong: It's been pretty good. I had a busy schedule at home so it wasn't too different coming here and having a busy schedule. It was a little bit different organizing my classes and finding my way around, but other than that it's been pretty easy to adjust. Everyone has been super helpful, which has really helped.
Frierson: What is it like being this far from home?
De Jong: It was definitely a change but I did know coming in that it was going to be really far. I still talk to my parents every single day, and my siblings, so it can get hard, I miss them, but I have a good support system here, too.
Frierson: Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in the world, maybe my favorite in North America, it just checks every box for me. What do you miss about it and home, besides your family, of course?
De Jong: Probably the ocean, being able to go to the beach easily, and the lakes. But in the wintertime I also miss the mountains, which are really nice. There are a whole bunch of sightseeing tourist things that even though I live there I still go to every single year because they're just so beautiful.
I also miss the city a lot. Athens is beautiful and I love it here, but it's definitely like a smaller town, and I'm more used to a big city.
Frierson: I've done the Grouse Grind a couple of times, which is both one of my favorite things and also one of the hardest things I've ever done.
De Jong: I did it every summer for a couple of years, actually, and I really liked it. I would sometimes run half and then walk the rest, but it's definitely a workout that's for sure.
Frierson: Let's talk about poutine for a minute. I'm sure everybody asks you about it, so forgive me. The only time I've had poutine was this past summer. It was good but I also don't really see what the big deal is. Can you explain it?
De Jong: Well, honestly, I don't really know. I don't love it, to be honest, but I did eat it a lot when I was a kid. I feel like it's just such a homy meal, like everyone kind of likes it because it gets you warm in the winter and it's something tasty for everyone to eat.
Frierson: One of the things I love is that the U.S. and Canada have so much in common but at the same time there are these notable differences, like poutine, like the all-dressed chips.
De Jong: Yeah, and we don't have Chick-fil-A.
Frierson: But you do have Tim Horton's, which is pretty darn good too.
De Jong: That's true, I love Tim Horton's.
Frierson: How did you get started in gymnastics and when did you know that this was something more than just a hobby?
De Jong: I started recreational gymnastics when I was five because my sister was in it; she's two years older than me and of course when you're little you always want to do what your big sister does.
I started and I was a very, very clumsy kid, so my mom wasn't too sure gymnastics was going to be it for me [laughs]. I was like, nope, nope, I want to do it. I started in rec and I was in rec for a couple of years. ... I was about eight when I started in competitive gymnastics and that was a little bit late for competitive in Canada. ... I wasn't really good for the first couple of years but a while I kind of got the hang of it, and I think when I was around 14 or 15 is when I knew this was what I wanted to do.
I had the determination and I wanted to work hard in it, so I continued. I had the opportunity to come here, so I knew that was definitely something I wanted to do. That was when I turned 16 I think, so then I just kept going through my years in gymnastics — and now I'm here and I'm just super excited to see what the future holds.
Frierson: What is it like competing for the national team, for your country, because that's not something a lot of athletes, even high-level athletes, get to do?
De Jong: It was definitely challenging, I'm not going to lie. There was a level of commitment and stuff like that, but it was definitely a worthwhile experience. I got to travel to so many places, meet so many people and just really put myself out there in the sport.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there something creative you do or wish you could do?
De Jong: Well, I wish I could sing but I cannot, I'm terrible at singing — but I definitely would love to be able to do that. I also like interior design a lot.
(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.
