Oklahoma Quotes

Head Coach Mark Williams
On Horton and Legendre's performances:
It's pretty impressive having three event champions from tonight's competition. Jon's a repeat champion on rings, which brings his national championship total to six event titles and 18 All-America honors which is the record for any OU gymnast in history. It's been a fine career for him.

Steve starting off his career with championships on floor and vault is pretty impressive. He's got some big shoes to fill, but he's possibly our next Jonathan Horton.
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NCAA Still Rings Champion Jonathan Horton
On Legendre's future:
Steve's a rock. I couldn't have asked for a better freshman. I was joking around with him earlier and said, 'Steve, you remind me of myself. It's making me proud.' He's on his way and if he keeps doing what he's doing I know he's going to break all of my records. I'm not going to hold on to them too long. I'm definitely excited about his future and it's a heck of a way to start out your collegiate career.

On the earning career-highs on rings two nights in a row:
Last night I just got up there and was thinking about nothing but the team. It was all about the team and I just tried to go out there and compete with my heart out on the floor and do everything possible to win.

Tonight I honestly didn't think I was going to be as strong as I was. I was exhausted starting today. It's definitely tough competing three days in a row and my legs felt like Jell-O on floor. But I jumped up on rings and I hit my first strength part and I felt a lot stronger that I thought I was going to. The training has paid off -- the 6:30 practices and doing conditioning. I just pushed through the routine. It felt way more difficult today than it was yesterday but apparently it looked better. It was exciting to get through that routine and stick another dismount.

On what goes through your mind during the event:
I don't think about anything during my routines. I kind of turn on the auto-pilot and just go. I get to the point where if I think, I mess up. It's weird, but I try to not focus on what I'm doing. My body knows what to do.
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NCAA Floor Exercise and Vault Champion Steven Legendre
On the transition between competing in club and NCAA gymnastics:
It's a little different. You're competing more for your team than yourself, which I personally like better. There's a lot more energy and you just want to do better. You want to go out there and do it for your teammates. It's a pretty big difference, but in a good way.

On winning both team and individual national titles in his first NCAA competition:
There's definitely nothing sweeter than the team title. That was probably one of the most exciting moments of my life. The individual stuff just kind of puts the icing on the cake. It's a lot of fun to go out there and do some of your best routines and have a lot of fun and just do what you can do.

On what goes through your mind during the event:
There's a lot going through your head, but there's only so much you can think about. You really just have to go out there and do it. The adrenaline helps you do that. It's like a night and day difference between warm-ups and the meet. You have all that adrenaline pumping, which definitely helps. What it came down to tonight was clean landings. I wouldn't say it's luck, but if luck is on your side it's definitely a nice benefit.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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