by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: 2007 Tyson American Cup
When: March 3rd @ 11:30AM
Where: Jacksonville Veteran’s Memorial Arena
The Tyson American Cup gymnastics competition is one of a few competitions that is a precursor to the Olympic Games, featuring gymnasts that will later be vying for positions on international Olympic teams. One of the gymnasts that will bear watching in the next year or so won’t be competing in the Tyson World Cup, but will be sitting on the sidelines cheering on her team. Her name is Chellsie Memmel, and she very nearly made it to the Olympics in 2004. She ending up being an alternate (because of injury) but is an excellent candidate to win the gold at the 2008 Olympics. She’ll be sidelined at the Tyson American Cup because of a shoulder injury, but you can expect great things from Memmel and her teammates in the next two years.
Memmel’s career has been full of ups and downs because of injury. Besides this year’s shoulder injury, she’s also broken her foot, pulled a hamstring and been sidelined with a bruised foot since she’s started competing seriously. When she’s uninjured, she can do great things. She’s the third woman in the world to complete a Dos Santos, an arabian double front in the piked position. She even has her own signature moves that have been named after her: a double turn with leg fully extended in a “Y” on floor and a piked barani on beam.
EU got a chance to speak with this 18 year-old gymnast about her past competitions, her life and future aspirations.
EU: How’s your shoulder doing?
Memmel: It’s healing rather well. My rotator cuff and my labrum were repaired. I’m about ten weeks out from surgery. I’ve just got the clearance to do even more and start training, like, even more.
EU: What’s been your most challenging or memorable competition?
Memmel: I guess the 2006 [World] Championship was kind of difficult after the injury because I competed with my shoulder on the beam and floor. But the 2005 World was also a challenge because me and Nastia [Liukin] were so close together till the very end.
EU: Your stat sheet has you born in 1988 and starting gymnastics in 1989. Did you really start at just a year old?
Memmel: Yeah, pretty much. Both my parents worked in a gym so that’s where I grew up so I just started playing around right away.
EU: Both your sisters have done gymnastics in the past. Are they both as serious about it as you are? Are they still competing?
Memmel: My youngest sister, Skyler, is 9 and does compete…She’s very much into it. My other sister, Mara, who actually turns 17 tomorrow doesn’t do gymnastics anymore, but she does do our dance program at the gym.
EU: What do you do when you aren’t competing?
Memmel: I like to hang out with my friends. My sister is one of my best friends…We go to movies…In the summer we have a lake house. We have people come out there, you know, just swimming in the lake or riding bikes around it, stuff like that.
EU: What’s your daily diet like?
Memmel: I drink a lot of water, eat mostly protein and fruits and vegetables.
EU: What’s your favorite indulgence as far as food is concerned?
Memmel: Pizza.
EU: Is competing in the Olympics a goal for you?
Memmel: Definitely, that’s my main goal for 2008.
EU: Have you gotten any endorsement offers yet?
Memmel: I have some of the gymnastics stuff like …a company out of Wisconsin called Gym Treasures, Tumble track and AAI.
EU: You’ve been all over the world competing. Do you have a favorite place you’ve visited?
Memmel: We usually just see the hotel and the gym…I’d like to go back to most of the places I’ve been. England and Switzerland were both very nice, very cool places. I’d like to go back to France and be able to see Paris.
Tickets for the Tyson American Cup go from about $20-50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling (904) 353-3309 or by going to the Jacksonville Veteran’s Memorial Arena box office.
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