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Interview with gymnast Nastia Liukin prior to 2005 Worlds
// USA Gymnastics // November 17, 2005
Nastia Liukin won the 2005 Visa U.S. National Championships after winning the previous two Junior National titles. Liukin was named USA Gymnastics' Women's Athlete of the Year in 2005 for her accomplishments. She is the only daughter of Valeri and Anna Liukin, who both coach at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. Her father won four medals at the 1988 Olympics, two of which were gold, and her mother was the 1987 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Champion. She says that her dad is her role model because he has had the experience of the Olympics and is a wonderful coach and dad. In her spare time, Liukin enjoys swimming, snow skiing, and shopping. Liukin's favorite school subject is math and she would like to become a marine biologist someday. Her future gymnastics goals are to compete in the 2005 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Q1: On how she is handling the attention directed towards her as the next USA gymnastics prodigy:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "We were in Houston at our National Training Centre for about a week. We did a few trainings after we made the team. It hasn't really been too much public I guess. But we're all really excited to be here and excited to be in Australia and competing at World [Championships]."
Q2: On how training has been going since arriving in Melbourne:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "It has been going great. We're doing these first few days are combination because flying from halfway across the world and everywhere you go the equipment is always different. So we're getting used to everything and it has been pretty good."
Q3: On her advertising campaign experience:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "That was a really fun experience. I was really honoured that they asked me to do it. It was a great experience."
Q4: On whether this changed her profile in the US:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "Yeah a lot of people on the street were like, 'I saw your commercial'."
Q5: On her expectations at these World Championships:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "Basically just to come here and do my best. I am not really setting any huge goals to win. If I could come first that would be really nice, but right now my goal is just to have good trainings right up till the competition and when we get there do my routines like I have been training them all week."
Q6: On her thoughts about the medal count:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "We are not really here just for medals. We are representing our country and just go the competition and represent the country as best we can."
Q7: On her appearance in the film "Stick It":
NASTIA LIUKIN: "They wanted me to do a big role but it was right during competition season. I couldn't do it so they asked me to do it for over the weekend so I was there for three days. It was really fun and it was a great experience. Maybe after gymnastics I am thinking of doing some more acting."
Q8: On her role in the film:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "I am a competitor at Nationals in the movie. I'm from my own gym, WOGA in the US and I play myself."
Q9: On having her father here as her coach:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "Yeah he has basically been my coach for my whole entire gymnastics career. Like Chellsie said we get to travel and its like being with your parents, you don't feel like you are too much away from home and missing them every day. They know how you feel and they know what is best for you, and what you need to get into your top shape at the right time. So it is really awesome working with my dad."
Q10: On whether she will attempt the quadruple twist in competition:
NASTIA LIUKIN: "I don't really think I will be doing the quad, just because it is a lot of training and stress on my body and my Achilles and everything. A lot of training. I'm thinking of next year for sure going to be training that a lot and hopefully next time around I will be able to do it. We thought with my dad and Martha [Karolyi] that it would be better if we stayed with the old routine."
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