2009 Vault World Champion, Kayla Williams and Alabama’s six-time NCAA Championship winning coach, Sarah Patterson.
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We chat with the pride of West Virginia, 2009 World Vault Champion and member of the 2012 Alabama NCAA Championship team, Kayla Williams. We discuss:
- The unusual origins of her triple full side-pass
- Her climb from the JO ranks to World Champion in just months
- Why she chose to move to Mary Lee Tracy’s gym.
- “Chuck and go” elite-gymnastics versus college requirements
- Her plans for the future
Next we chat with Kayla’s coach, arch-enemy of Georgia’s Suzanne Youclan, wearer of sequin gowns, University of Alabama’s six-time NCAA Championship winning coach Sarah Patterson. We discuss:
- Handling fear in adult athletes
- Her opinion on early recruiting
- Injuries the elite code could cause for NCAA athletes now
- Routine strategy: reward versus short landings
- If Sarah DeMeo will be the first ever to compete an arabian double pike in college
- The role athletic directors have played in NCAA parity
- Advice for Men’s Gymnastics – no fans means no institutional support
Kayla Williams Twitter KaylaRoseWms
University of Alabama Gymnastics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
- Episode 26: Ivana Hong
- Episode 18: Bridget Sloan
- Episode 10 : Greg Marsden
- Episode 12: Miss Val Part 2
- Episode 11: Miss Val
- Episode 13: Justin Spring
- 65: NCAA Judge Dean Ratliff, Early Recruiting & Saving Temple Men’s Gymnastics
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Wow. Two great interviews. Good luck to Kayla this season! I found Sarah Patterson’s comments about preparing NCAA athletes for success after gymnastics really interesting. I can see how important it really is. It must be strange for gymnasts to end their NCAA eligibility and just one day be done with the sport. I can imagine for a lot of them, it is a really tough time and transitional period. I hope that other NCAA coaches have the same philosophy in regards to this as Sarah Patterson. Thanks again Gymcastic for bringing us gymnerds another great episode!