On her return from Germany, Simone answered 10 questions for this month's USA Taekwondo Athlete Profile...

Q1: How has your experience on the Senior National Team been so far?

SIMONE DeVITO: My experience on the National Team, so far, has been a great one. Representing my country is such an honor. Traveling and training with the present team has been such an invaluable experience. I have learned so much already and I know I will continue to learn so much more.

Q2: Who is an Olympian or other national-level Taekwondo athlete you would like to train with, and what is the first question you would ask?

SIMONE DeVITO: What an amazing opportunity it has been already, training with two Taekwondo Olympians (Steven Lopez and Nia Abdallah), and not to mention several world champions! But if I could train with any other Olympian, it would have to be one of my long time idols, Mia Hamm. Not only do I love the sport of soccer, (not as much as Taekwondo), but as a female athlete she has accomplished so much. I admire her drive and dedication. The first question I would ask her is, how does she prepare herself mentally before each soccer game?

Q3: Were there any other sports you played when you were younger that you had some potential in?

SIMONE DeVITO: When I was younger I juggled Taekwondo and Soccer. I'm a really fast runner and I was pretty good. But there was always a conflict between practice schedules, games, training and tournaments, and I was forced to make a decison between the two. I am very happy that I chose Taekwondo because I really love it!

Q4: Who has been your biggest role model?

SIMONE DeVITO: My biggest role model is my teammate and friend Eleni Koutsilianos. Even before we were teammates I had always watched her from afar and even though she only one year older than me, I always looked up to her. She is dedicated and has a real passion. Now that we are on the same team we push and help each other through anything and we make each other stronger in many ways. She has also been a true friend.

Q5: What's the last book you read?

SIMONE DeVITO: The last book I read was The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. I loved this book because it is about true life values. It is about never taking anything for granted and that every life has a purpose whether you can see it or not.

Q6: You list your hobbies as photography and dance. What do you enjoy most about those two activities and how involved are you with each one?

SIMONE DeVITO: I enjoy both photography and dance very much. Since I am a little shy, they are both a form of personal expression and they allow me to express myself. However, because of my Taekwondo training I haven't taken any dance classes since I was about 14 years old. I still dance a little in school projects. The past year I have taken photography classes in school and I really love it. My teachers think I have a good eye and it is something I might consider continuing in my college education.

Q7: What is your one favorite movie of all-time and why?

SIMONE DeVITO: This is actually a hard question because I have a lot of favorite movies. But if I have to pick one, I'd say it would have to be Anchorman. It's so funny and I have watched it so many times while traveling that I know all of the scenes inside and out.

Q8: What, if anything, did you do differently to prepare for the Dutch Open in March, and how will your training change for the other upcoming international events this year on the senior level?

SIMONE DeVITO: I prepared for the Dutch Open both physically and mentally. In Senior level competition, especially internationally, there are no weak players. Everyone is out there to win and you have to be able to push a little harder when you really need to. For upcoming international events I have been pushing myself to focus more, and to dig deeper inside to fight harder and stronger each time.

Q9: You are set to graduate from high school this spring. Do you have any plans for college or any particular areas of study you wish to pursue?

SIMONE DeVITO: I will be attending St. John's University in Queens, New York, this fall. I am not quite sure what studies I will pursue, as my focus now is on my training. The reason I chose to apply to St. John's University is becasue they have a major in photography and it is close to my coach, Master Jin Suh. (And my grandfather is an alumni who played with the Redmen.)

Q10: What's the best present you've ever received?

SIMONE DeVITO: The best present I ever received was my dog Jasmine. My dad brought her home as a Valentine's Day gift when I was four years old. I named her Jasmine because the Disney movie Aladdin had just come out and she was as as pretty as Princess Jasmine. She lived to be 13, and throughout her life she was always a loyal and great companion.