University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Gymnastics: Building Another Championship Season
November 11, 2010 | Gymnastics
Nov. 11, 2010
By Lauren Seligman
This week we move into the second tier of the Pyramid of Success with Self-Control. Coach Wooden wrote: "Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are essential." Fulfilling our full potential requires us to maintain control over our emotions. When we lose control, we subject ourselves to making unnecessary mistakes. As a team, we are able to excel only when all of our contributors demonstrate self-control.
When thinking about self-control in gymnastics, balance beam immediately comes to mind. A balance beam routine requires self-control from start to finish. The beam is only four inches wide and subsequently leaves little room for error. Keeping emotions in check is critical. When a gymnast allows her emotions to overcome her, all control is lost. Nervousness on beam can be a gymnast's worst enemy. Championships are often won or lost on the beam.
Our athletes work on maintaining control of their emotions, from mount to dismount, every day in training. Partner sets and in-a-row assignments are some of the ways coaches add pressure and challenge mental acuity during practice. The goal for the Bruins is to always compete the same way they practice. As Miss Val always says, our goal is to achieve calm and confidence through preparation.
Bruin junior Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs shines on the balance beam. Last season she recorded a perfect 10 on the road at Georgia and averaged better than a 9.8. Prior to coming to UCLA, Elyse became the first Canadian gymnast to medal at the World Championships when she won the balance beam bronze in 2006. I caught up with Elyse earlier this week for a brief Q&A:
Q: What goes through your head before you mount the beam to compete?
A: I just try to tell myself to stay calm and do the same thing that I do in practice. I know I'm ready, after months of practice and intra-squads, and the entire team is behind me, which also gives me an extra boost of confidence.
Q: How do you keep your emotions in check during a competition?
A: I think the most helpful thing for me has been using my team to help me stay calm. We all know what we need to hear before going up and have become really good at motivating each other with calm confidence.
Q: Do you mentally prepare differently for college meets than you did in elite?
A: My mentality has completely changed from elite gymnastics. I used to get too nervous when I competed, whereas now I have learned to control my emotions, and again, having an amazing team behind your back the entire time helps so much more than you would think.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: We have an amazingly talented team, and I'm just really looking forward to showing everybody what UCLA gymnastics is all about.
Q: What are some of the upgrades you are making?
A: I'm changing up my tumbling lines this year and adding a back tuck after my beam mount. Other than that, I've just been working on making everything as clean as possible.
Q: What is your favorite part about being a Bruin?
A: I love my team so much, and they are definitely my favorite part of being a Bruin.
