My name is Sophie, and I am a 7th grader at Slarts and a level 7 gymnast at http://www.utahgtc.com. I will be doing the gymnastics section of “Me after school”. I have been doing gymnastics for 6 years and it has always been my passion. Coach Derek, has taught me so much about this amazing sport. He let me sit down and talk to him about gymnastics.
I got the opportunity to interview Coach Derek. I met with him at 3:15, fifteen minutes before our workout started. He and I sat on mats while I recorded the conversation on my phone. He sat across from me with his coffee in his hand. Throughout the conversation he was constantly thinking deep into his past of gymnastics. He also had long pauses in between every question. My first question was “how did you get into gymnastics?”
It took him awhile to answer, you could see him winding back the clock in his eyes.
“At a young age my stepfather taught me how to do a handstand. And after that I started to practise handstand very often after that. Then I had to pay for my own gymnastics lessons by mowing lawns.”
“How old were you at the time?” I asked
“About 11.” he said
“How long did you do gymnastics for?”
“Well I trained and completed through highschool and college so about 12 years.”
"I have only been doing gymnastics for half of that time.”
“How did you get into coaching after you were done with gymnastics?”
“I did it through college to support myself.”
“How long have you coached?”
“Umm, 35 years”
I was amazed that he had that much experience and that he was MY coach!
“What did gymnastics teach you that you still use today?”
“Courage to be confident and try new things”
I was surprised to hear that from one of my idols, and to find out that he still needs courage and still gets scared to this day.
“What would you tell gymnast that are just getting started?”
“Believe and believe that you can.”
These were words that I had heard
in many practices.
“Okay that should do it. Thank you for your time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The GTC has just moved to a new location and you can sign up for a class at http://www.utahgtc.com
I got the opportunity to interview Coach Derek. I met with him at 3:15, fifteen minutes before our workout started. He and I sat on mats while I recorded the conversation on my phone. He sat across from me with his coffee in his hand. Throughout the conversation he was constantly thinking deep into his past of gymnastics. He also had long pauses in between every question. My first question was “how did you get into gymnastics?”
It took him awhile to answer, you could see him winding back the clock in his eyes.
“At a young age my stepfather taught me how to do a handstand. And after that I started to practise handstand very often after that. Then I had to pay for my own gymnastics lessons by mowing lawns.”
“How old were you at the time?” I asked
“About 11.” he said
“How long did you do gymnastics for?”
“Well I trained and completed through highschool and college so about 12 years.”
"I have only been doing gymnastics for half of that time.”
“How did you get into coaching after you were done with gymnastics?”
“I did it through college to support myself.”
“How long have you coached?”
“Umm, 35 years”
I was amazed that he had that much experience and that he was MY coach!
“What did gymnastics teach you that you still use today?”
“Courage to be confident and try new things”
I was surprised to hear that from one of my idols, and to find out that he still needs courage and still gets scared to this day.
“What would you tell gymnast that are just getting started?”
“Believe and believe that you can.”
These were words that I had heard
in many practices.
“Okay that should do it. Thank you for your time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The GTC has just moved to a new location and you can sign up for a class at http://www.utahgtc.com