Nastia Liukin is five times Olympic medalist and Nine times World Championship medalist in artistic gymnastics. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started doing gymnastics at an early age of six years and competed in your first National Championships as a junior in 2002, at the age of 12 1/2 years.
You reached the pinnacle of success in artistic gymnastics when you won gold in individual all-around champion at 2008 Olympic Games at Beijing and also four other Olympic medals. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Nastia Liukin:
There are many factors that are responsible for achieving any kind of goal like this. First is obviously to set that goal for yourself, but also remembering to set not just long term goals- like the Olympics were for me- but short term goals as well. It’s important to set daily, weekly, monthly goals to feel like you’re striving to achieve something on a daily basis.
While any amount of talent is helpful, that will only get you so far. Hard work and discipline, are far more beneficial factors to achieving any kind of accomplishment. And believing in your goals no matter how many people tell you that they are impossible, is crucial.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your father Valeri Liukin and mother Anna Liukin were world-class athletes. You father won four medals at the 1988 Olympic Games including two gold medals in gymnastics and your mother was a 1987 rhythmic gymnastics world champion. Your father teamed with another former Soviet champion athlete, Evgeny Marchenko and started the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano. How this formidable gymnastics background was a catalyst in making you a world leading olympic gymnast.
Ms. Nastia Liukin:
My parents moved to the United States with hardly any money, not a word of English and a dream to open up a gymnastics school and one day coach their own athletes on to the World Championships and Olympic Games. They never even dreamed it would one day be their own daughter. Seeing them work so hard day after day, penny after penny, to try to achieve their dreams made me believe anything is possible if you set your mind to something and work hard every single day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have innovated your own mesmerizing style of artistic gymnastics. Elaborate on your winning artistic gymnastics concept.
Ms. Nastia Liukin:
I was a very different gymnast than most of my teammates and competitors. At 5’3 I was the tallest of our team, so that already gave my gymnastics style a different flare. I was never as strong as the other girls, but I worked twice as long to get as strong as I needed to be, the be competitive with them. I also wanted to perform routines that were unique, and had a “wow” factor.
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