Weekly diary by Valorie Kondos Field, head coach for UCLA's women's gymnastics team.
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Oct. 31, 2003
The UCLA Gymnastics 2003 fall season has been really exciting due to quite a few different aspects to our daily training. First of all, whenever you have a large freshman class, there are a lot of new experiences brought to the team. Last season we only had two freshmen, so with six this year, plus a junior transfer, there are a lot of new Bruins in the mix.
While we have seven new Bruins this season, we also have a "veteran" Bruin training with us. Mohini Bhardwaj is training for the 2004 US Elite season. Since it is an Olympic year, she is able to train with our team. It's hard to imagine, but her gymnastics is better than ever. For example: she's training (successfully) a Tkatchev to immediate full twisting Pak salto and a double-twisting double layout off bars that looks easier for her than the full-twisting double layout. Her beam is jam-packed with skills, including an Arabian double front off of beam. And on vault, she is training a Yurchenko two-and-a-half and a Yurchenko half on, front layout off. It is SO exciting to have Mo back in the gym. It's also great motivation for Kate Richardson, who is going strong training to compete for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team.
Our weekly routine also includes something brand new for all of us - sign language classes for all of our team and staff. Aimee Walker, one of our Bruin freshmen, has already had a tremendous positive impact on our team. I'm sure that many of you know that Aimee is deaf and blind in one eye. What you may not know unless you've spent time with her is that her spirit is an amazing testament to living life to its fullest regardless of the physical abilities you were dealt. Aimee doesn't consider herself disabled. Imagine the message she sends to all of us on a daily basis with regard to appreciating all that we do have and take for granted.
It's nice to see the entire team and staff fully embrace learning how to communicate with her. Not only do we practice signing daily with Aimee but with each other during our training. It's also great fun and quite handy to be able to communicate with each other in social situations where we've wanted to communicate and didn't want to interrupt other people around us.
Another exciting addition to our training this season is Kristen Maloney. We are hoping that Kristen will be ready to compete on at least two events this year. Due to her unrelenting diligence to strength and conditioning these past two years, Kristen's gymnastics has come back extremely easily for her. She's in amazing physical condition, and her return to gymnastics is reaping the rewards. We're obviously taking her landing progressions very slowly. I can't begin to tell you how exciting it is for all of us to see her do gymnastics again. Stay tuned...
I could go on and on about everyone else on our team, but I'll save it for another time.
For now - we're on a DRIVE FOR FIVE - national championship team titles that is. We are excited to be hosting the NCAA Championships right here in Pauley Pavilion. Get your tickets now!