Mention the name Rebecca Bross and one of two statements invariably follows. In 2012, she could become the third straight gymnast from her gym - World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano, Texas - to become Olympic all-around champion. And last year, she narrowly missed the chance to become world all-around champion, falling on the final skill of her final routine.
But Bross isn't willing to let either of those storylines define her. While others may be eager to name the 17-year-old as successor to Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin, her focus is elsewhere - at least for the moment. "I really don't think about it much at all," Bross says. "I take everything day by day and the Olympics is still another two years away and I just want to do my best now."
Still, she admits Liukin's journey to Olympic gold in Beijing made an impact. "It did motivate me. I work out with her everyday and saw what she went through... It's what I would have to go through if I wanted to do the same."
In fact they have already gone though many of the same things. Besides sharing a gym and a coach (Valeri Liukin, Nastia's dad), each missed out on an early Olympic opportunity because she was born in a year after an age cut-off. Bross won't make her Olympic debut until age 19, which means that - like Liukin in the last Olympic cycle - she'll have to outsmart injury and hold off an emerging younger generation of talent. And four years before Bross was defeated for the 2009 world title by Bridget Sloan, Liukin was even more dramatically edged out by a teammate - she lost by .001 (essentially an artificial margin created by rounding of scores) to Chellsie Memmel.
Where the two Texans most differ is in their gymnastics - Bross is the daredevil to Liukin's ballerina - but both exhibit a striking intensity. It's probably the thing that most stands out about Bross on the competition floor, where she often stares trance-like before beginning a routine. "It's one thing that's always been kind of easy for me," she says. "I just know it's keeping focused and not letting my brain go loose completely... It's what I've always done and it's just a habit."
But don't take that to mean she's icy. In fact, Bross believes that's the biggest misconception about her sport. "Most people think that we're all serious gymnasts and kind of put off from the world, but we're all really nice girls and we all love to compete against each other."
Bross, who has already claimed two major all-around titles this season (American Cup and Pacific Rim), will attempt to win her first senior national title in Hartford, Conn., starting on August 11. The U.S. junior champion in 2007, she missed the chance to defend that title in 2008 when she broke her foot. Later that year a dislocated knee cap and bone chip set Bross back further, causing about five months of missed training. When she returned to the U.S. Championships last year for her senior level debut, Bross finished third after a costly error, peeling off uneven bars on the second day of competition.
About those falls. Bross's brand of gymnastics is based on taking risks. And those risks can lead to spectacular mistakes. In each of her last two competitions she has fallen on balance beam, and ending that streak is high on her list of priorities for Nationals. "I've been competing this year a lot and I have to make sure I focus on everything I'm doing," she said last week. "I need to do everything right."
Like many gymnasts competing in Hartford, Bross's stated goals are to hit her routines and put herself in a strong position to make the U.S. team for the World Championships in October. "This year it's a team competition instead of just individual," Bross points out of Worlds, "So I'm excited for that."
As for claiming that individual all-around world title she let slip away? "It would be great to be able to get that after how I barely missed out on it last year and messing up on my last skill," Bross allows, before hedging slightly. "But just being able to go and represent my country again would be a great experience."
But Bross isn't willing to let either of those storylines define her. While others may be eager to name the 17-year-old as successor to Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin, her focus is elsewhere - at least for the moment. "I really don't think about it much at all," Bross says. "I take everything day by day and the Olympics is still another two years away and I just want to do my best now."
Still, she admits Liukin's journey to Olympic gold in Beijing made an impact. "It did motivate me. I work out with her everyday and saw what she went through... It's what I would have to go through if I wanted to do the same."
In fact they have already gone though many of the same things. Besides sharing a gym and a coach (Valeri Liukin, Nastia's dad), each missed out on an early Olympic opportunity because she was born in a year after an age cut-off. Bross won't make her Olympic debut until age 19, which means that - like Liukin in the last Olympic cycle - she'll have to outsmart injury and hold off an emerging younger generation of talent. And four years before Bross was defeated for the 2009 world title by Bridget Sloan, Liukin was even more dramatically edged out by a teammate - she lost by .001 (essentially an artificial margin created by rounding of scores) to Chellsie Memmel.
Where the two Texans most differ is in their gymnastics - Bross is the daredevil to Liukin's ballerina - but both exhibit a striking intensity. It's probably the thing that most stands out about Bross on the competition floor, where she often stares trance-like before beginning a routine. "It's one thing that's always been kind of easy for me," she says. "I just know it's keeping focused and not letting my brain go loose completely... It's what I've always done and it's just a habit."
But don't take that to mean she's icy. In fact, Bross believes that's the biggest misconception about her sport. "Most people think that we're all serious gymnasts and kind of put off from the world, but we're all really nice girls and we all love to compete against each other."
Bross, who has already claimed two major all-around titles this season (American Cup and Pacific Rim), will attempt to win her first senior national title in Hartford, Conn., starting on August 11. The U.S. junior champion in 2007, she missed the chance to defend that title in 2008 when she broke her foot. Later that year a dislocated knee cap and bone chip set Bross back further, causing about five months of missed training. When she returned to the U.S. Championships last year for her senior level debut, Bross finished third after a costly error, peeling off uneven bars on the second day of competition.
About those falls. Bross's brand of gymnastics is based on taking risks. And those risks can lead to spectacular mistakes. In each of her last two competitions she has fallen on balance beam, and ending that streak is high on her list of priorities for Nationals. "I've been competing this year a lot and I have to make sure I focus on everything I'm doing," she said last week. "I need to do everything right."
Like many gymnasts competing in Hartford, Bross's stated goals are to hit her routines and put herself in a strong position to make the U.S. team for the World Championships in October. "This year it's a team competition instead of just individual," Bross points out of Worlds, "So I'm excited for that."
As for claiming that individual all-around world title she let slip away? "It would be great to be able to get that after how I barely missed out on it last year and messing up on my last skill," Bross allows, before hedging slightly. "But just being able to go and represent my country again would be a great experience."
thankyou so much universial sports!
photos from rebecca bross official website
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