Interview with USAG Board Chair, Kathryn Carson

Interview with USAG Board Chair, Kathryn Carson World Cup is lucky to have USAG Board Chair, Kathryn Carson, as a neighbor. She recently moved from Chappaqua to Armonk and stops by to observe our programs, talk to our athletes, share with us news about the top gymnasts from around the world, and educate us regarding the important changes that have taken place at USAG. We recently checked in with Ms. Carson in between her travels. WCG: You were at the Gymnastics World Championships in Germany. What was it like to witness Simone land the triple-double on floor as well as the double-double on the balance beam. KC: I was thrilled to attend my first Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. It was a great opportunity to see the most talented gymnasts from all over the world give it their all, and to see the global community there to cheer them on. Many Americans made the trip, and our tremendous athletes performed at their best! It was awe inspiring to see Simone perform her triple double on floor and double double on beam, and she made Team USA proud with her 5 gold medals. Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee also medaled, and Sam Mikulak of the men’s team took 5th on uneven bars and the Longine’s award for elegance in his athletic performances. WCG: Simone has certainly increased the excitement level of women’s gymnastics, how else has she changed the sport? KC: Simone continues to achieve many “firsts” for gymnastics here and around the world. Some of the things about Simone that stand out for me are her maturity and leadership role she plays with our national team, her fun and playful spirit, and the fact that she possesses the personal drive to push herself to new places – in many ways she is competing against herself. I don’t think we can begin to understand the impact she will ultimately have on our sport, and on all of sport! WCG: There are many women’s collegiate gymnastics programs in the United States, but there are less programs for men. Does USAG have any plans to help increase more opportunities for male gymnasts in the collegiate sports arena? KC: USA Gymnastics is definitely focused on reviving and increasing the opportunities for male athletes to compete at the collegiate level. We are fortunate to have Justin Spring, 2008 bronze medalist and currently the leader of the men’s program at the University of Illinois, on our board. We regularly dialogue with a number of entities in collegiate sport about how we can strengthen men’s programs, and are currently recruiting a new Vice President for men’s artistic gymnastics. WCG: How can parents best support their athletes and help keep them motivated? KC: Parents play a role in encouraging their young gymnasts, and also in assuring their kids are having fun! I’m a believer that young athletes will choose to stay with gymnastics when they feel they are part of a team and when the joy of athletic movement through gymnastics is always present. While there is discipline required to advance through the levels of our sport, and, like any sport, it can be competitive, parents should assure that their family is keeping a balanced approach to gymnastics. This helps to promote a safe environment, as well. WCG: Gymnastics is great for kids since it is one of the few sports that helps build a foundation of so many important skills like strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, body awareness, focus, and discipline. How can we attract more kids to this great sport? KC: Despite the huge challenges our sport has faced in recent years, USA Gymnastic’s national membership has remained steady, and we are grateful that so many continue to participate in our sport as gymnasts, coaches, and club owners. We believe that as the national governing body for gymnastics, we have an obligation to understand the needs of our member clubs and to help grow participation. One of our strategic priorities for 2020 is to assess the landscape, and begin to develop educational and other programs. The events of recent years demand a focus on safety, and we want to help everyone understand the advances we have made in our Safe Sport program and how we can all work together to assure our athletes are safe. We hope to develop programming to encourage participation in a broader range of disciplines, as well. .

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