Q&A with Sandra Ostad
7/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
July 28, 2011
Mizzou Gymnast Sandra Ostad will be competing for her native country of Norway in several upcoming competitions. Get an inside look at how she is preparing for the international meets.
Your first competition is Universiade Shenzen in Hong Kong on Aug. 13. What are your goals for that meet?
SO: This is my first competition, so I don't have very high expectations. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I'm excited to compete again internationally and to try my new skills and routines. Of course I want to do well. My goal is to make it to the all-around final (the top 24 competitors go to the all-around final). I also want to make it to at least one event final. I think if I do my two vaults as planned, with a good landing, I'll make it.
Will you be rotating alone or with other competitors?
SO: We usually rotate in groups of six girls. One of my teammates from home, Karoline Sondov, is also competing, so hopefully they'll put us in the same group.
Who will your coaches be?
SO: My coach from back home, Octavian Ionasiu, is coming with us. John Figueroa will travel to Norway for Nationals and then later to Worlds with me.
Do you have to reach a certain score at that meet to advance to the National Competition on Sept. 17? What about to advance to Worlds?
SO:You do not have to qualify to participate at the Norwegian National Championship, but to advance to the World Championship, in Japan, the Norwegian Federation requires a minimum score of 49 points at Nationals.
How do you feel about being able to take this opportunity?
SO: I am so excited about it. I feel super lucky, and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and everything that's been given to me. I have planned to use all my energy and focus on gymnastics this summer and I am not going to let this chance pass. I have everything I need to succeed with the opportunity. I can work out as much as I need and get the help that I need from my coaches. In addition, I have my teammates backing me up, which means a lot to me. There have been so many people helping me throughout my whole life and I'm so grateful to all of them. Sometimes I don't feel like I thank them enough.
This is not your first time competing at this level, how is it different from college?
SO: Very different! Hopefully my nerves will be calmer now because I have even more experience. Even though competing in college makes me nervous, it is a different nervous feeling than I get when competing internationally. I hope that competing in several different competitions has helped me and will calm the nerves when I¡¦m competing internationally again.
Can you describe the feelings you experience during a meet of this caliber?
SO: Tons of nerves! I get very nervous right before I go. In some of the events I calm down when I actually start my routine. During bars I get super nervous, but after I've done my mount and started my routine the nerves usually go away. On beam, on the other hand, I get even more nervous after I start my routine, so it varies a lot from event to event. Floor and vault are just fun to do, and this is where I can show off a little without being too nervous! As I said earlier, competing internationally is different than competing in college in so many ways. Now I'm on my own again. I compete for myself and the result will only affect me instead of my whole team.
What has the training regimen been like?
SO: Right when we ended our college season earlier this year I started training for elite. We changed the bar and vault settings, started working on new skills, and getting some of my old skills back. I've been training with Fig most of the time. It's been early mornings and many hours in the gym and in the weight room, but it's a lot of fun. It's definitely a challenge, but it's fun and very exciting!
How have you pushed yourself through it? What comes next?
SO: Right now I'm trying to get all my skills perfectly before we start putting them together to routines. I still have a lot of hard work to do, and it's not going to be an easy summer but I couldn't be more ready for it. I love doing gymnastics, and working hard in the gym. I push myself, but I also have Fig pushing me when I need it.
Have you had any challenges during your training process?
SO: So far, so good! Other than being a little sore and tired from time to time I feel great! Gymnastics will always challenge you, but that's what I love about it.
Have your Mizzou teammates been helpful during your training? How? What motivates you?
SO: I know they are always there for me if I need them. They support my choice and they cheer for me in the gym. Tori (Howard) even made me a motivational poster that's hanging in my room. I could not have asked for a better group of girls for teammates. I know they have my back like I have theirs.
- My goals are my biggest motivation. The desire to be a good gymnast that people can look up to, and the dream of going to the Olympics.
- Gymnastics is also my passion. It gets rough, it takes a lot of time and effort, and you need to give it your all, but this is what I love doing so it doesn't feel like I'm sacrificing anything.
