Q&A with Gymnast Natasha Kelley

July 23, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma redshirt freshman gymnast Natasha Kelley took some time out of her voluntary practice session on Thursday for a sit-down interview with SoonerSports.com. Kelley, widely regarded as the most high profile recruit in OU history upon her arrival last summer, was forced to redshirt last season after tearing her achilles during the preseason. With that injury behind her, Kelley sheds light on a variety of topics including her rehab process, potential NCAA postseason rules changes and what she and her Big 12 champion teammates have been up to this summer.

First off, how is the summer training program and your rehab process going?
"The foot feels really good. I am training on all four events like I would train normally during this time of the year. I'm doing flips on vaults, my beam routine, most of my passes on floor and am already doing half sets on bars."

"I'd say I am 95 percent recovered at the moment. The only things I am not training yet are twists on my vaults and one of my floor passes."

Where would you say that you are at with your training compared to this time last year?
"I'm pretty far along, especially compared to last year. Last year at this time I was getting the rod placed in my shin and it was a lot slower coming back from that. I really feel a lot more comfortable about what I am doing in the gym and having that familiarity with a summer training program now that I have been here for a year. I've re-gained everything a lot faster this time around, which should help as we move into the fall."

How is your home-away-from-home here at the temporary facility?
"It's definitely different than what we are used to. It's hot, but you get used to it after awhile. At the same time, it's a small price to pay when you look at where we are going to be once our gym on campus is finished. We are all looking forward to moving into the new facility this winter. It's going to be an amazing place to train and bond as a team. It's going to be one of the nicest around and we're happy that we are able to use it every day."

Any early goals for next season?
"I want to get back to competing on all four events as an all-arounder. Anything I can do to help the team win another Big 12 title and get us back to Nationals."

What are your thoughts on the proposed rules changes for postseason competition?
"I like the six-up, six-count format as I believe that it will distinguish the teams a little bit better. It rewards the teams that are competing at a high level in each and every routine, as one slip-up and you're night can be over. Consistency will be a big factor, and I believe that for the most part, we were a very consistent team last season."

What are you doing this summer outside of the gym?
"I've taken a summer class during each of the two sessions. Outside of that and the gym, just staying relaxed and hanging out with my teammates, enjoying these last few weeks of summer. I'm going back home in a few weeks to see my family before school starts back up. I'll train at my home gym while I'm there and continue working on getting better each and every day."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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