Sept. 3, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The 2008 Olympics in Beijing have come to a close, but there will be plenty of reasons for Illinois State fans to maintain their Olympic spirit throughout the year. Two of ISU's gymnasts, Andrea Orris and Hannah Deutsch, each have a special connection to this year's Games. Both student-athletes trained at the same gym as the past two Olympic all-around champions.
The World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA), located in Plano, Texas, is one of the premiere gymnastics facilities in the nation. The facility is owned by Valeri Liukin, who won gold and silver medals for the Soviet Union at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
WOGA is the home of the past two Olympic all-round gold medalists, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin. Patterson won the gold in the all-around and the silver on the balance beam at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Liukin, the daughter of Valeri, added silver medals on the uneven bars and balance beam to her all-around gold in Beijing. Both gymnasts also led the United States to silver medals in the team competition.
Orris, a junior, and Deutsch, a sophomore, have trained at WOGA for years alongside the Olympic heroes. Orris was under the direct tutelage of Valeri Liukin, while Deutsch trained with the same coach as Patterson, Yevgency Marchenko. Both Redbirds said that having gymnasts they know and trained with in the Olympics made the Games even more exciting to watch than usual.
In a GoRedbirds.com exclusive interview, Hannah talks about training regimens, what it's like to know two Olympic champions, and even predicts who the next United States standout will be in the 2012 Olympics in London.
GR: Hannah, tell us a little about the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy.
Hannah Deutsch: It is located in Plano Texas and was opened in February of 1994. It is owned by the 2008 Olympic all-around gold medalist Nastia Luikin's dad, Valeri Liukin.
GR: I understand there are some pretty famous gymnasts that have come through WOGA. Could you tell us a little about them?
HD:Carly Patterson, who won the all-around gold medal during the 2004 Olympics in Athens, trained there. Nastia did as well and several other national team members through the years.
GR: How many years did you train at WOGA
HD: I have been there since August of 1994. I think I have the record for being there the longest, besides Nastia.
GR: What was your training schedule like?
HD: We have morning and afternoon practices. We do conditioning as well as work on all of our events. We work out six days a week, so it can be pretty intense.
GR: Does it make you appreciate what you went through more knowing that an Olympic gold medalist went through the same grueling practices?
HD: Yes, because we know it's possible and that all of our hard work can pay off in the end. It is really special because not everyone can say they trained with Olympians or had the same coaches as Olympians.
GR: Was there any point in time when you realized Carly and Nastia had Olympic aspirations?
HD:Yeah, I kind of knew from the beginning. They made the nationals team and went to the World Championships a couple of years before everyone else usually does.
GR: How would you rate Nastia's performance in the Olympics?
HD: She did an awesome job. She was perfect.
GR: Did you think it was fair when Nastia won the silver medal on the uneven bars even after she tied with China's He Kexin?
HD:I think it was unfair. They both got the same score, so they both should have received a gold medal.
GR: With all the recent exposure on Nastia's training do you think it will make you train harder this season?
HD: Yes, because for college athletes the season is like our Olympics.
GR: What is it like to watch two people you know and train with compete in the Olympics?
HD: It is really exciting. Not too many people can say that. It is also interesting because I knew more about what they were doing. I knew their routines and had even done some of them before.
GR: Does anyone on campus know about your Olympic connection?
HD:Yes, a couple people have asked if I know her. In class, when we have to tell a fun fact about ourselves, I tell people that I know Nastia. They are always really surprised.
GR: Did you ever have any aspirations of becoming an Olympian?
HD: Every gymnast does when they are younger, but then as they grow older, they realize that it might not happen. After a while I knew that college was going to be as far as I would go with it.
GR: In a competition between Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson, who do you think would win the gold medal?
HD: It is hard to say because their styles are so different. Nastia is very graceful and Carly is very powerful.
GR: You have trained with the last two Olympic All-Around Gold Medal winners. Iis there anybody you know that you can see winning the gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London?
HD:Rebbeca Bross. She is probably 15 now, so she was too young to compete this year, but she is very good and I think could have a shot.
