Inside Gymnastics recently caught up with National Team member Jacquelyn Johnson for a quick chat about her background in the sport of gymnastics, her training and what lies ahead for the talented Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy athlete who will celebrate her 17th birthday in June. Jacquelyn, who just wrapped up her junior year in high school, recently represented the U.S. at the Tyson American Cup where she placed third in preliminaries in the all-around competition, but was not able to advance due to a two-per-country rule.

Just two years ago, Jacquelyn was a Level 10 gymnast who was the runner up at J.O. Nationals before placing 10th in her debut performance, the 2005 U.S. National Championships. At the Women’s National Team Training Center this week for camp, she hopes to continue to impress National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi. Her goals this year include making the U.S. National Team again and going on to vie for a spot on the 2006 World Championship team. Jacquelyn is also looking ahead to NCAA gymnastics and will be evaluating her options in the coming months. We hear Stanford may be among the programs that Jacquelyn, a standout student and athlete, may be considering.

Inside Gymnastics: Take us briefly through your gymnastic career… What age you started… the gyms where you have trained and so forth…

Jacquelyn: I started gymnastics when I was three years old, and I began at Michigan Academy Gymnastics. My mom coached there, and that’s how I got started. I was just always at the gym.

And then my mom actually owned a gym called Maple City Gymnastics in Michigan . We had two Bulgarian coaches, and they suggested when I reached Level Eight that I needed to go to a bigger gym that would lead me to more opportunities to further my career.  Then I moved to Cincinnati to Cincinnati Gymnastics, where I’ve been for about six years.

Inside: Describe your relationship with Mary Lee….What is she like as a coach? How do you work together as a coach and athlete?

Jacquelyn: Mary Lee - she’s great! She’s very into the whole communication thing so we all understand each other, and we all know what’s going on at all times. She understands our needs and if we have any problems or any difficulties going on in our lives.

Inside: You were recently invited to the 2006 American Cup. Talk me through the selection camp that you went to and what that was like…

Jacquelyn: Well, we arrived at camp on a Wednesday morning. Then we trained on Wednesday and on Thursday. Then, we started verification, which is just showing our routines to Martha and a judge. We get scored and just show them our consistency and our ability to focus. We continued verification until Saturday morning, and then Saturday afternoon, they selected the team and announced it [that day] before practice.

Inside: When you went to the camp, what were your thoughts? Did you think you had a good chance of making the team? What was going through your mind, and how did you feel during the week?

Jacquelyn: I felt like I had a chance to make it. I wasn’t sure how the other people at the camp would [look] and in what kind of shape [they would be in].  But I was confident going in that I had a good chance to make it. I was a little nervous during verification just [because] I wanted to show what I was working on in the gym, and that I just wanted to prove to Martha that I had what it takes to be selected for the American Cup.

Inside: Some people tell us they get nervous around Martha at first. What’s your relationship with Martha like?

Jacquelyn: At first, it’s a little bit intimidating, but then you’ve just got to understand what her expectations are and that she’s just like any other coach. You just need to believe in her and believe in yourself, and you’ll be successful.

Inside: So when you got out on the competition floor at the American Cup, what was it like?

Jacquelyn: Um, it was really exciting to be out there with all the other big names and being able to compete against them and compete with them, with the same type of skills! It didn’t feel that different from other big meets, like Championships. I just focused on that, that it was the same kind of situation and that all I needed to do was focus on my routines.

Inside: And right before competition did Mary Lee have any final words of advice for you?

Jacquelyn: She told me to focus on the corrections that I had been making in the gym and to stay tight and not rush my skills and to just take one thing at a time.

Inside: At that competition, you tied for third, but because of the two per country rule, you weren’t able to advance. Was that frustrating knowing that you were third best in the field, but you didn’t have a chance to go to finals?

Jacquelyn: Yeah it was frustrating, just because I would’ve liked to be out there and compete again, but I know there’s always another chance to go out there and prove myself.

Inside: You have some great skills in your repertoire (on bars, Stalder Khorkina (pictured); on beam, standing Arabian and punch front to back handspring, layout; on floor, double Arabian and 2 ½ twist to punch layout). Anything new that you’re working on?

Jacquelyn: On beam, I’ve been working triple twist dismounts. On floor I’ve been working a 2 ½ front punch full.

Inside: Ok, a couple of questions on the lighter side…What are a few of the songs or bands that are on your Ipod?

Jacquelyn: Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy and lots of country!

Inside: Any celebrity crush?

Jacquelyn: Chad Michael Murray (from One Tree Hill)

Inside: Favorite TV show and favorite movie?

Jacquelyn: I love Friends and my favorite movie is probably Ms. Congeniality!

Inside: And when you want to get away from the gym and gymnastics, what are some of your hobbies?

Jacquelyn: I love to read, and I love to spend time with my dogs and just relax in my room (laughs).

Inside: And last question – if your friends were to describe you in three words, what are three of the words they may use to describe your personality.

Jacquelyn: (thinks) Funny, um, shy at times, I guess at times. And trusting.

Inside: Well, we trust we’ll be seeing great things from you in the future!

On the web:

Visit Jacquelyn Johnson’s official website at www.gymnastchic.com

Inside Gymnastics online coverage of the American Cup: Finals , Prelims

In print:

The March / April issue of Inside Gymnastics, available in our shopping cart under back issues , contains coverage of the 2006 American Cup. And look for a preview of the U.S. National Championships in an upcoming issue of Inside Gymnastics. Subscribe today!