Player profile: Olivia Jeong

Player+profile%3A+Olivia+Jeong

Player Name: Olivia Jeong

Grade: Senior

Sport: Gymnastics

Position: All-Around (all 4 events)

3 Fun Facts: 

  • She can crack both her knees on command every 15 seconds
  • Her middle toe on her left foot is shorter because she broke it one time
  • She likes painting things when she is bored

How long have you been competing for?

“Only four years on the high school team. I never did club gymnastics or anything competitive before.”

What is your favorite part of the sport?

“My favorite part would be just being on the team. Getting to meet the other girls from Northern and Eastern who also love the sport is great. There’s never many people on the gymnastics team, so I feel like every year we build a really close bond with each other and have so much fun.”

What/who was your inspiration for the sport?

“I remember as a kid I was always intrigued by Shawn Johnson’s gymnastics and thought she was so cool. The passion that my coaches, Lindsay and Twill (Mrs. Will), have for the sport has definitely been inspiring throughout my high school career. “

What is your pre-meet ritual? 

“Before meets when we’re on the bus, I like to listen to really loud music through my headphones. Recently, one of my teammates from Northern and I have been doing this thing where we scream every single word to The Real Slim Shady by Eminem before meets.”

Do you play any other sports?

“I also do track, which I have been doing since middle school, and I competed in diving for the first time this fall as a senior.”

What are your goals to improve as a gymnast?

“Along with increasing the difficulty of my skills on floor and vault, one of my main focuses is just becoming more consistent with my routines on all of the events. I’d like to be an individual state qualifier on all around at the regional meet this year, and I feel like I just need to learn how to not freak myself out mentally and do what I am capable everytime I compete.”