In the meantime, the 2008 U.S. national champion on vault
keeps involved in gymnastics as a coach and mentor, while teaching her dance-influenced moves, acrobatic floor tumbles and pinpoint lands as a clinician for Precision Choreography. As for a possible return to competing as a pro gymnast?
Retirement is “definitely an adjustment,” she says. “I loved competing. Loved performing. So I don’t know. If my body heals up, we’ll see where we can go fromthere.”
GA: What’s a typical day for you like now?
AS: It depends. I’ve been traveling a lot lately. Especially if I have to go back home to Boston, like for a charity event…I’m kind of cross-promoting everything. I’mtrying to domy clothing line and doing choreography. And I’m still doing some coaching forUSA Gymnastics. So I’mall over the place. I feel andwork betterwhen I have more things going on. If I’m just doing one thing, it gets to the point where I obsess and I go crazy. If I have the opportunity, Imight aswell do it now.
GA: Your life was a roller coaster between the ’04 U.S. Nationals and the ’08 Olympics.
AS: That’s the best way to describe it. I knew it wasn’t gonna be easy, going back into competing after 2004, but in my mind my goal ultimately was the Olympics.We had a lot of great highs and a couple of really bad lows. In the end, I still accomplished my dream, which was making it there and representing the United States. It wasn’t my best competition, but it was the best competition I could do at that time.
GA: Were you trying to redeem your 2004 experience?
AS: I was definitely trying to prove myself. I stuck around for those four years, and I felt it was my time to show everybody that I was a contender for the Games, and medals and being a good team captain for my girls. So I felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself to do the absolute best. It didn’t come out the absolute best, but it was still pretty great.
“They overexaggerate thewhole ‘tragic
figure’ thing. Imean,
c’mon. I’m like, I’m
walking outwith all of my limbs. I think it was a good day.”
GA: What kept you frombreaking down in Beijing during the Jumbotron’s lingering close-ups after your costlymistakes were broadcast world-over?
AS: I knew [my teammates] were looking tome, and I had to stay strong for them. And as much as I did want to go hide under the podium and cry my eyes out, I knew I couldn’t. So I kind of bit my tongue and held it in. As soon as we walked out after the awards, one of our divers who’d come down to watch said, “Alicia, I have that memory of your face burned inside my brain, and it makes me so sad every time I think about it.” But my teammates were very supportive and helped me
get through those last couple of days.We had a very unique bond. Since I was the oldest, I was kind of taking care of them over there. I was the big sister.
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