University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Lily Smith
April 16, 2024 | Gymnastics, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
In her first collegiate gymnastics meet, Georgia's Lily Smith scored a 9.975 on bars to win the event. In her second meet, she led the GymDogs with a 9.925 on floor. In her third, on Jan. 20, against Missouri at Stegeman Coliseum, she delivered a perfect 10 on bars.
A freshman from Limerick, Pa., Smith came in with a lot of expectations as one of the top recruits in the country. And she has delivered all season long. Last month, the all-around competitor was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and an All-American. At the NCAA Gainesville Regional earlier this month, she won the all-around title. And later this week, Smith will compete for the national all-around title at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
During a recent Quick Chat, Smith talked about her first year of college, the effect of getting a perfect 10 early in her first year, what she does to relax, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What has your freshman year of college been like?
Smith: It's been amazing so far. Obviously, being in this gym with the amazing coaches and a great team has been something that I've loved. In club (gymnastics), it's so different. I just feel like we're more like a team, more like a family.
With academics, there are so many great things that they offer here, and so many resources, so it's been pretty easy balancing out gymnastics and academics, which I'm thankful for.
Frierson: Did you ever play any team sports? Is this your first real team experience?
Smith: I've only ever really done gymnastics. I did cheerleading when I was super young, but I've basically just done gymnastics. It's just so different. It's kind of like an individual sport when you're in high school and stuff, but then, when you come to college, you're part of a team. You're doing this for your team.
Frierson: Has being a part of a team proven to be more meaningful than you ever expected?
Smith: I love having the team there to support me and being there to support my teammates. You're not only hitting for yourself, you're doing it for your team, because your team score is what matters.
Frierson: When you got that 10, did that change anything? Did it change your expectations for your freshman year?
Smith: It wasn't life-changing, because I'd already gotten a 10 (when I was younger), but it was a different experience when I got it in college. Having my team cheering for me, having the crowd (at Stegeman Coliseum) going crazy — we don't have those big crowds in club — and all of the recognition that I got, it was super amazing and cool. It was definitely an experience.
That was my goal coming in, I wanted to get a 10. I'm hoping to keep working hard and get more. That's the goal [laughs].
Frierson: What do you do to get away from gymnastics and school?
Smith: Just taking time to myself. In my room, if I need some time, just relaxing, watching TV, or hanging out with my friends. We'll sometimes go downtown to go shopping, because there are so many cute stores there.
Frierson: Is it weird to think that your freshman year is almost over? Does it feel like it's gone by quickly?
Smith: Crazy quick, like in a blink of an eye. I can't believe it's going to be over already and I'm going to be a sophomore, which is crazy to think about. But it has been a great freshman year experience, and I'm so happy.
Frierson: And it's not over yet.
Smith: That's so true. I still have the nationals, which I'm excited about.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Smith: I love acai bowls. That's like my favorite thing ever [laughs]. Playa Bowls is actually my favorite, and it's coming here.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Smith: It's probably JaFree (Scott). She just knows how to get everybody laughing. If the mood is down, she'll turn it around. Everything she does is so funny that she gets the whole team laughing.
Frierson: Why are bars and floor your favorite events?
Smith: Bars, I just love swinging, and it kind of came easy to me. I have so much fun on the bars. And then floor, I like showing off [laughs] my style, because it's different than other people's, I feel like. I like showing off my floor routine and the skills that I can do. I have the most fun on that one.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
In her first collegiate gymnastics meet, Georgia's Lily Smith scored a 9.975 on bars to win the event. In her second meet, she led the GymDogs with a 9.925 on floor. In her third, on Jan. 20, against Missouri at Stegeman Coliseum, she delivered a perfect 10 on bars.
A freshman from Limerick, Pa., Smith came in with a lot of expectations as one of the top recruits in the country. And she has delivered all season long. Last month, the all-around competitor was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and an All-American. At the NCAA Gainesville Regional earlier this month, she won the all-around title. And later this week, Smith will compete for the national all-around title at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
During a recent Quick Chat, Smith talked about her first year of college, the effect of getting a perfect 10 early in her first year, what she does to relax, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What has your freshman year of college been like?
Smith: It's been amazing so far. Obviously, being in this gym with the amazing coaches and a great team has been something that I've loved. In club (gymnastics), it's so different. I just feel like we're more like a team, more like a family.
With academics, there are so many great things that they offer here, and so many resources, so it's been pretty easy balancing out gymnastics and academics, which I'm thankful for.
Frierson: Did you ever play any team sports? Is this your first real team experience?
Smith: I've only ever really done gymnastics. I did cheerleading when I was super young, but I've basically just done gymnastics. It's just so different. It's kind of like an individual sport when you're in high school and stuff, but then, when you come to college, you're part of a team. You're doing this for your team.
Frierson: Has being a part of a team proven to be more meaningful than you ever expected?
Smith: I love having the team there to support me and being there to support my teammates. You're not only hitting for yourself, you're doing it for your team, because your team score is what matters.
Frierson: When you got that 10, did that change anything? Did it change your expectations for your freshman year?
Smith: It wasn't life-changing, because I'd already gotten a 10 (when I was younger), but it was a different experience when I got it in college. Having my team cheering for me, having the crowd (at Stegeman Coliseum) going crazy — we don't have those big crowds in club — and all of the recognition that I got, it was super amazing and cool. It was definitely an experience.
That was my goal coming in, I wanted to get a 10. I'm hoping to keep working hard and get more. That's the goal [laughs].
Frierson: What do you do to get away from gymnastics and school?
Smith: Just taking time to myself. In my room, if I need some time, just relaxing, watching TV, or hanging out with my friends. We'll sometimes go downtown to go shopping, because there are so many cute stores there.
Frierson: Is it weird to think that your freshman year is almost over? Does it feel like it's gone by quickly?
Smith: Crazy quick, like in a blink of an eye. I can't believe it's going to be over already and I'm going to be a sophomore, which is crazy to think about. But it has been a great freshman year experience, and I'm so happy.
Frierson: And it's not over yet.
Smith: That's so true. I still have the nationals, which I'm excited about.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Smith: I love acai bowls. That's like my favorite thing ever [laughs]. Playa Bowls is actually my favorite, and it's coming here.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Smith: It's probably JaFree (Scott). She just knows how to get everybody laughing. If the mood is down, she'll turn it around. Everything she does is so funny that she gets the whole team laughing.
Frierson: Why are bars and floor your favorite events?
Smith: Bars, I just love swinging, and it kind of came easy to me. I have so much fun on the bars. And then floor, I like showing off [laughs] my style, because it's different than other people's, I feel like. I like showing off my floor routine and the skills that I can do. I have the most fun on that one.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director 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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