My Journey: Trust the Process

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Chapter 16
  • Felt almost numb going into Trials
  • Mindset on everything mattered–performance at camps, practices, podium training mattered, not just the competition
  • Gymnastics is a subjective sport. Judges hold the future of a gymnast, every judge has their own taste and style preferences, different things they are tough on, and different things they are relaxed on
  • Noted teams had been chosen straight down the AA ranks under Tom
  • Simone was essentially locked in, and Jade had her individual spot
  • Drove to Trials with their coaches–her first long road trip with them
  • Seven workouts in the four days before the competition. Hit all her beam routines twice a day, never missed a bar routine or a beam series
  • Required to do all four routines for the televised podium training. Parents didn't get a subscription to Flo for this and followed on social media
  • Day 1:
    • Great vault
    • Bars–bent knees coming out of shaposh half–upset because it was the first major mistake she'd made in St. Louis
    • Warming up beam, needed to use the bathroom. Armine told her not to go. She had a ritual to always go when she felt the need, but tried to focus on her routine. Kept debating if she should go; then thinking she didn't have enough time. Had their one touch and Armine left her for Kara. Rushed her series and fell, then fell again on her dismount
    • Devastated, trying not to cry. Al wouldn't stop lecturing her and Armine wasn't around, tried not to show expressions because the cameras were in her face
    • Finished floor with a clean routine
    • 10th AA after Day 1
    • Prayed and kept faith
    • Hoped that her vault and floor would be her keys
    • Tom told her he'd been impressed by her all week and not to worry about her beam–just do it like she was on the floor
  • Day 2
    • Nothing to lose, felt less stressed
    • Hit bars
    • Solid beam
    • Spectacular floor
    • Vault was clean and solid
    • Finished the night thinking she'd done everything she could
    • Moved to 8th AA
    • Thought her floor was peaking and she might even have a chance of medaling on it
    • While waiting, felt she had no chance of making the four member team and was hoping for an alternate spot
    • Things she would have had a chance if she had hit as strongly on Day 1 as she had Day 2
    • Had to be happy and thankful with being an alternate and be going at all
    • Had predicted the team would be chosen by going down the AA list, and that's what happened
    • Doesn't know if any strategies were taken into account about what events and athletes would make a team stronger like would have happened in the Karolyi era
    • Quotes Tom's statement about tenths not mattering in his decision to take AAers over specialists
  • Learned not to pressure herself too much and was proud to be an alternate
  • Perfectionist, but she rebounds quickly when something goes wrong

Chapter 17:
  • There was a summer camp at GAGE the week before they left. Lots of campers wanted pictures, but she wanted to social distance as much as possible
  • Weren't allowed to sign t-shirts or take photos–signatures were stamped on t-shirts before hand and a signed photo from Trials was given to each gymnast
  • Workout schedule was modified to avoid contact with gymnasts who had been traveling, both for COVID and to avoid distractions
  • The entire summer camp (hundreds of gymnasts) would stop and watch when Kara and Leanne did routines. Stressful, but learned to block it out
  • Training hours for the second workout were technically 4-7, but they could leave early if they hit
  • Did bars and beam twice a day–needed two hits in both morning and afternoon for bars. 6 hit beams in the morning and 4 in the evening–mentally and physically exhausting
  • Had two practices the day before they left. Training was intense in the gym until the last minute
  • Talks about how hard it is being an alternate and being ready for anything
  • After first practice, talked with local news channel, and then had send off by GAGE. Lunch at Armine's, got her nail done. Enjoyed getting spoiled and looking pretty for Tokyo.
  • Reported told her mom Armine considered Leanne one of the hardest workers in the gym, which she hadn't heard before
  • Armine had given them motivating quotes every day since US Classics 2021 to the end of the Tokyo OIympics, and she had saved all of them. Showed them to reporter
  • Finished packing for Tokyo at 1:30; suitcase weighed 68 pounds. Decided to deal with the overage fee.
  • Left for the airport at 3:30
  • As passengers for the Olympics, were told their checked bags could weigh up to 70 pounds without fees
  • Bittersweet saying goodbye to the family that couldn't travel with her to Japan
  • Unexpectedly were upgraded to first class on flight from Kansas City to Denver
  • Denver to San Francisco to meet up with the rest of team USAG
  • Before boarding, had to show boarding pass, passport, and negative COVID test
  • Were in Economy Plus. When they realized how empty the plane was, moved back a few rows and got an entire row to herself, could lie down.
  • All spectators banned from the Games
  • Delta variant was surging
  • 85% of Olympic athletes vaccinated before Tokyo. Rigorous daily testing. Each delegation was required to wear a mask, had strict personal hygiene, and was required to social distance
  • Restricted from tourism and had strict arrival and departure dates
  • Would have to leave the country in 48 hours if not needed. If you were on the team and didn't make an individual final, you also had to leave in 48 hours
 
She does not discuss why she and her parents chose for her not to be vaccinated. She seems to stand by the choice. She does discuss feeling attacked because of it.

Chapter 18:
  • Lots of media awaiting Simone in Tokyo, they got to be part of it (not said in a bitter way!)
  • Flight from CA to Tokyo was 10 hours, and 14 hour time difference from Kansas City
  • 6 hour process getting through the airport–waiting an hour to get off the plane, COVID saliva test, credential processing, immigration, customs, waiting for COVID test results. Small groups, isolated bathroom no other travelers used. Plane landed at 3, got to hotel at 9; only a 15 minute bus ride
  • Only left the hotel for practice; whereabouts monitored via their phones.
  • Meal rooms had a good selection of foods. Got food wearing gloves, sat 6 feet apart, and all sat facing forward. At least being on the top floor of the hotel, they had a good view
  • Excitement overpowered jet lag for first day of training. Braided the front of her hair for the first time without her mom's help.
  • A favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Everything is possible with faith in Christ, even if it doesn't go the way you want it to
  • Practiced in Hashimoto Daiki's training gym
  • Usually alternates would have trained separately, but because of COVID they stayed together
  • Third day after arriving, got a text that they couldn't leave their rooms or go to practice because Kara had a positive test. Leanne was Kara's roommate and immediately moved to a separate room. Everyone was worried, Leanne more so because she was Kara's roommate. Armine told her not to tell anyone at home so they wouldn't worry
  • Had to tell her mom because her mom immediately noticed she was in a room by herself–mom was calm
  • Kara was taken to the airport clinic testing site for a PCR, which came back negative and everyone was able to resume practice–missed the morning practice, but got the afternoon. Leanne got to keep having her own room
  • Later that evening there was drama between one of the alternates and the main team gymnasts. She was in the practice room when she heard something like, "Please don't get hurt. I really don't want to compete and have to replace you." Remembers staring at them in disbelief. Rumor started that the alternate wanted someone to get hurt. Everyone had to meet and she had to personally apologize and clarify that she didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. Simone commented, "Being an alternate is not an easy job, but we need to work together."
  • July 19:
    • The next day Kara's test was positive again. The positive was confirmed. The trip for the alternates to the Olympic Village was cancelled and she never saw 'daylight' after that. USAG released a statement and there was a lot of criticism for letting alternates train side-by-side with the team
    • She got a lot of negative comments–many believed she was the one who tested positive because she was unvaccinated. Felt brutally attacked even though she was healthy. She had been identified as unvaccinated after Trials–Nancy Armour asked the question. Doesn't seem happy she was asked about it at all. Many people criticized her for being selfish, jeopardizing Simone's health, and saying she shouldn't be on the team
    • CNN and NPR tried to reach her dad for interviews; the Malaysian family knew about it before her mom had a chance to talk about them. USAG and USOPC did not require COVID vaccinations for US athletes
    • Front line members of the hotel moved to a new hotel new the competition arena immediately. Armine didn't want Kara taken to a COVID hotel away from her
    • Leanne's parents were told she would be quarantined for 5 days if she had a negative test that night, which would allow her to fly home on July 24th as originally scheduled. Had to clarify if she'd be allowed to start practicing on 22nd at the end of her quarantine
  • July 20
    • She and her family tried to stay low key
    • Eakers did many interviews talking about COVID and the vaccine
  • July 21
    • Was still hopeful she'd be able to get back to practice
    • Made sure to follow the rules
    • Was stressed about potentially testing positive after being close to Kara
  • July 22
    • Japanese public health said she could not go outside freely or practice
    • Would be quarantined for 14 days. Flight was changed to Aug 2
    • Felt like she'd done everything she could by taking hygiene seriously, masking, and distancing
    • Heartbroken. Put on her favorite Olympic leo and took a million shots of handstand to get a perfect one for Instagram
    • Post went viral, got many supportive. Most fans were positive, but still had some negative comments. Ignored them. Felt her situation was only COVID's fault
    • Felt totally ignored because she was an alternate and unvaccinated. One of the other alternates said she felt like they didn't care about them. Leanne said, "We're just here for fun!" and they both laughed
    • Parents were trying to get more information on her situation
    • Felt imprisoned
    • Couldn't figure out how to watch podium training on Japanese TV, so followed on social media
  • July 23
    • Opening ceremonies took place, watched on Japanese TV
    • Told Armine she wanted some matcha-flavored items in Japan, and that day she brought Leanne and Kara match ice cream cones from the 7-Eleven. Able to eat it in the hallway outside their hotel rooms; first time seeing Kara after quarantine. Stood 10 feet away. After one bite without a mask, she couldn't do it and felt like she had a nervous breakdown. Went back to her room because she wanted to remain negative and go home safely. Would have loved to have had ice cream with other people while in quarantine, but not Kara at that moment
    • Just wanted to go home
  • July 24
    • Kayla, Emma, and their coaches left
    • Armine could have left but wanted to stay with Kara and Leanne. There was no definitive answer on Leanne's situation
    • Found out Phil Dalhausser had also been in close contact with someone who tested positive, was quarantined five days, and then was allowed to compete
    • Felt like because she was just an alternate, people thought there was no purpose in her getting out of quarantine in less than 14 days
    • United required more quarantine time than Delta and American Airlines–14 days instead of 10. United changed their policy
  • July 25
    • 10 days in Japan, 7 days in quarantine, still testing negative
    • Lived in constant fear of testing positive
  • July 26
    • United changed their policy back to 14 days
    • There was also a typhoon concern on the 27th, so they needed to change the flight anyway
    • Felt like she'd lost count of time. Confused about what the policies were, scared about getting a positive test
    • Constantly alone and in distress in a tiny hotel room
    • USAG decided to book a flight on Delta for Leanne and Armine on the 28th
  • July 27
    • Taken to USOPC's hotel for a COVID test. First fresh air she'd had since being quarantined
    • Drove by Japan's Disneyland
    • Negative test
    • Got to shop at a convenience store and got matcha snacks, latte, brownies, and KitKats. Most fun she'd had since arriving in Japan
    • Got McDonalds on the way back–Al was tired of hotel food and wanted to try Japanese McDonalds. Portion sizes were smaller
  • Daily Routine in Quarantine
    • Take COVID test at 7, then go back to sleep (stayed up late FaceTiming with parents)
    • Bored, not much to keep busy. Wish she had taken summer school
    • Did pilates and basic conditioning
    • Longest she'd ever gone without going to the gym
    • Three meals delivered to her room a day One day wrote a note asking if she could have a banana, grapefruit, or kiwi, and after that those three pieces of fruit were delivered three times a day with her meals. Soon had an entire drawer of fruit
    • Got steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans for all three meals every day. Never got to try authentic Japanese food
    • One day the interpreter asked if they wanted to change their meal plan after the other alternates left. Asked if they could order off the hotel menu and get what they wanted–everyone liked this much better!
  • July 28
    • Very eager to depart
    • Left the hotel at 10 for their 4 o'clock flight and ended up with a lot of time to kill
    • Flew Delta Comfort
    • Huge relief to be home
  • Always wonder what the experience would have been like without COVID
    • Would she have made the team if she went clean at Trials?
    • If she were on the team, would she have been removed for being in close contact with Kara?
  • Had always been together with Kara in gymnastics–trained and roomed together
  • Kara didn't have to take extra COVID tests and have the same constant anxiety Leanne did. Flew home one day after her with Al. Didn't have to COVID test for it
  • Still feels the years of training and sacrifice were worth it
  • Was eager to get back to Japan for 2021 Worlds
 
What a heartbreaking experience.

Here's her handstand picture from the hotel:

Leanne.webp
 
Last edited:
cftmoonlight79 said:
The vaccine wouldn't have prevented a positive test or her getting covid. The vaccine is not for everyone, and she shouldn't have to discuss that. So sad that she was bullied because of it.
Click to expand...
I don’t think it’s particularly her reasons for not having it that is interesting. It’s maybe slightly more interesting since her parents are doctors and the family doesn’t appear to fit the stereotypical mould of vaccine sceptics.
But I wondered if there had been pressure from either USAG or USOC to get it. Or if anyone around her, coaches, team mates etc had expressed an opinion on it.
 
CameliasFingerpaint said:
Really…? It’s really hard to have any sympathy whatsoever for her, especially as she chose not to disclose why she elected to not get vaccinated.
Click to expand...

How would the vaccine have helped her in this specific situation though? She never actually had Covid or tested positive in Tokyo. She was quarantined for being a close contact of Eaker, who was vaccinated. Wong being vaccinated wouldn’t have stopped Eaker from testing positive.

She was only 17 in July 2021. It really wasn’t up to her whether she was vaccinated or not at that time.
 
CameliasFingerpaint said:
Really…? It’s really hard to have any sympathy whatsoever for her, especially as she chose not to disclose why she elected to not get vaccinated.
Click to expand...
Leanne was 17 during the summer of 2021. Whatever she may or may not think regarding the Covid vaccine, it was her parents decision at the time. It could be argued that it was a totally invasive and inappropriate question for a journalist to ask a minor athlete.

Edit to add: I remember vaguely some speculation that whilst the British Olympic committee required all participants to be vaccinated unless they had a medical exemption, that under 18s were also exempt since Britain was not approved the vaccine for under 18s at that point and that it would affect the Gadirovas.
 
Yes, all four alternates were sent to Tokyo (there was supposed to be a 5th but no one was named) The 4 alternates trained with the 4 team members and two individual athletes. I recall many of us being in an uproar because they were not social distancing, not wearing masks, etc. Pictures of them in a line up, shoulder to shoulder.
What was the purpose of having 5 alternates if you have them train with the selected team.

If any one of them caught COVID that would eliminate your entire delegation because of the close proximity/contact. We already were aware of how strict Japan was with COVID mitigation protocols.

The fact Eaker ended up testing positive proved that USAG nearly fucked up the whole games. They were very lucky with the timing.
 
irichluck21 said:
Yes, all four alternates were sent to Tokyo (there was supposed to be a 5th but no one was named) The 4 alternates trained with the 4 team members and two individual athletes. I recall many of us being in an uproar because they were not social distancing, not wearing masks, etc. Pictures of them in a line up, shoulder to shoulder.
What was the purpose of having 5 alternates if you have them train with the selected team.

If any one of them caught COVID that would eliminate your entire delegation because of the close proximity/contact. We already were aware of how strict Japan was with COVID mitigation protocols.

The fact Eaker ended up testing positive proved that USAG nearly fucked up the whole games. They were very lucky with the timing.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, the slap in the face to Shilese Jones who ended up being invaluable to the team for much of the next quad... (re: the no 5th alternate)
 
Chapter 19:
  • Very bored in Tokyo. Made hundreds of tape grips
  • Qualifications
    • Finally got access from Armine to watch quals online (day 7 of quarantine)
    • US was the favorite, but that leaned heavily on Simone's performance
    • Trouble started with weak performances on floor
    • Really felt for Chiles (doesn't name her) having two falls on beam–reminded her of her Day 1 Trials
    • Many coaches (including hers) warn athletes not to go on social media–one negative comment hurts more than all the positive ones help
    • "Perhaps we as human beings should be a little more kind, loving, and understanding of the tremendous pressure these athletes face on the world stage."
    • Felt for Simone when she talked about the pressure she felt–unfair she was expected to carry the weight of Team USA.
    • "This was not the final. This was about getting into the final. So, this might be a great awakening for us, and we'll take advantage of it." Tom Forster
  • Team Final
    • Mixed emotions–wished she was competing, but wanted them to do well
    • Knew Russia would be a tough competitor, remembers that Listunova was only able to make the team because of the pandemic. Wong is a fan of Listunova's gymnastics
    • After the Olympics, Armine said the US (or GAGE? 'they') needed tumble like Simone and Jade and have Russian elegance and artistry
    • Confused by Simone's vault. Wasn't sure if it was a 1.5 or 2.5
    • Jordan stepped up on bars, Suni had a great routine, Grace hit by clipped her feet. Russians had hit strong on both bars and vault
    • US hit three solid beam routines while Russia had two falls; US was .8 behind Russia going into floor
    • Russia hit three floors; US didn't hit their first two routines
    • Wished she could have been on the floor to perform
    • Russia won comfortably
    • Her mom said, "Simone's also a human, not a robot."
  • Twisties
    • Simone withdrew from one final after another. Wong describes it as a lost sense of air awareness.
    • Speaks highly of Simone–idol for years, happy she went home with medals, privileged to train and compete with her, keenly felt the pressure she was under
    • Leanne had the twisties as a level 9, so felt that too. Simone's just happened at the highest pressure point in her career and she didn't have time to straighten things out (pretty sure the pun wasn't intended)
    • During Leanne's twisties, added an involuntary half twist to every front layout. Began when she accidentally twisted once, then her body wouldn't stop doing it. Went back to drills and lower level skills and gave herself a break from it to get over it
    • Problem was mental
    • Need enough time for a mental block, and then you can come back slowly
 
Chapter 20 is over 50 pages, so it's getting broken up. Here's the first couple parts; I'll try to get the rest tonight

Chapter 20 (Part 1)
  • Post-Olympic Training
    • Felt back at square one and like she had to make up time
    • Had never taken more than three days off from gymnastics
    • Wanted to compete at Worlds
    • Blocked out her experience in Tokyo
    • Coaches took some time off, presumably for a mental break–Al came back in for short periods but didn't coach. Armine just dropped off their daughter Athena and left–was gone for four weeks
    • Trained herself separately from everyone else–a coach doing private lessons kept an eye on her. Had her mom on the floor to supervise and take videos–Al had trained her to analyze her own skills and routines
    • Hadn't talked with Armine since Japan
  • Training Protocol
    • Working to gradually get back into shape, build strength, and regain muscle memory
    • Lot of time on tumbl-trak (she says long trampoline), rod floor, laser beam, and doing drills. Didn't take anything for granted
    • Floor passes: Started on tumbl-trak, moved to rod floor
    • Vaulted on a drill setup, using a soft vault table from Tumbl Trak. Took baby steps before moving to the regular table. Doesn't like landing in the pit, so landed on a resi in the pit
    • Began floor routines with layout timers and gradually moved passes to the competition floor–felt rushed trying to put a floor routine together
    • Bars was the biggest challenge. Had completely lost her stalder and inbars. When she tried to her stalder, she couldn't get up to handstand–techniques and timing were completely off. Eventually could barely get a pirouette out of it; tried to get her clear hip back, which gave her very sore shoulders (hadn't really done much since competing them in level 8)
    • Needed close circling skills to connect to her more difficult skills
  • Practice Break
    • Three weeks after returning had to take a week off to go to UF for freshman orientation
    • Jenny Rowland was very supportive of her decision to try for Worlds. She advised Leanne to start school in Jan 2022, but Leanne wanted more to do than just train gymnastics so she decided to do online courses with UF for fall semester
    • Before going, had asked Trinity if she could train at UF while there; Trinity said she'd be too busy with orientation. Leanne and her mom didn't believe that was possible
    • Called Jenny and learned she couldn't train because non-UF athletes must be cleared to participate in athletics; she had to do a lot of physical assessments and paperwork to be cleared to train at a university facility
    • Had blood draws, EKG, physical, etc. Trinity was right about no time to train. Also had to shop for her dorm room–hadn't brought much for it, and the stores were sold out. Also met with her academic advisor and signed up for online fall classes
  • Business
    • In Florida, met with Noele Figueroa, the owner of Higo Apparel. Had started messaging during quarantine
    • Excited to create leos with her, had started designing in quarantine
    • Husband was a coach, and she was able to train at his gym before going to UF
    • Noele came up with the idea of the signature on her bow
    • Later, when she designed her signature leo and created her own company, every leo and a Leanne Wong Bowtique bow with her handwritten signature
  • USADA
    • Forgot to update her whereabouts with USADA
    • Minors have to have al adult watch the USADA official watch the athlete pee in the cup
    • Received a miss for drug testing. It was her second miss, because she had one at the training camp for American Cup 2019
    • Three misses in a year leads to a ban
    • Because she had a miss, they had to return before the end up the quarter
    • They showed up at 7 am on a Sunday (her day to sleep in) on her birthday
  • Injury
    • Twisted her ankle when her foot rolled off the laser beam
    • Mom asked if she was okay and of course she said yes, but could only crawl around the gym and do some upper body exercises
    • Armine had returned but was mostly just watching, not coaching. She saw but thought Leanne could walk away with just some icing. Leanne usually kept her updated on her day since she'd been training herself, but that day she just slipped out
    • Went straight to the chiropractor. Mom's decision, because another gymnast in the gym had experienced an issue with the same skill and it had helped. Had never been to a chiropractor before. Performed Active Release Technique on the foot–"a hands-on approach used to heal soft tissue injuries and many other injuries." Afterwards, foot felt looser with more range of motion
    • Felt it was helping, so went back four times in next several days
    • Also recommended contrast therapy–3 minutes in cold water, 2 minutes in hot, repeat 2-3 times
    • Leanne already regularly did hot recovery after her daily workout
    • While treating her foot at LifeTime fitness (using the hot tub and a tub of ice), started swimming 10-20 minute sprints (40-50 laps) of all four strokes, then contrast therapy
    • Hates icing
    • Aimed to swim every day to increase strength and endurance
    • Soaked foot in cold water with a pH of 11.5 using a filtration machine they have with several ionizer settings along with antioxidant-boosting technology that she says are used by the Japanese in hospitals
    • pH 11.5 is for healing. pH 6 is beauty water her mom uses for her face. 2.5 is for sterilization. Use it for the health benefits of drinking alkaline water at pH 9.5
    • Water produced by machine has stronger antioxidants than green tea of vitamin C–cut apple or avocado put in the water doesn't turn black
    • Father was originally skeptical but is sold after months of research
    • After a week of minimal training, foot was much better. Stayed on TumblTrak and didn't do anything that would bother it. Did extra bars and basics for other skills
  • Meeting with Armine
    • Armine wanted to know how she was doing since she was training by herself
    • Asked if Leanne truly wanted to be a World Champion–Armine was clearly mentally tired from her Olympic experience, but left the decision up to Leanne–but Leanne had to be completely committed
    • Leanne had to be doing it for herself, not Al or Armine
    • Talked about some previous gymnasts who regretted not going further
    • Said she had potential and shouldn't quit now, but it wouldn't be easy and the Russians are already back after training for the Olympics–they were still peaking
    • Armine and Leanne committed to training for Worlds together
    • Still spent a lot of time training herself. Started to train with some of the L10 and pre-elites. One of the parents asked Leanne's mom in a joking but unfriendly tone, "Why can't we get rid of you?"
    • Felt in much better shape by September verification
    • Asked if Leanne wanted to go back to training the BHS-LOSO series after falling on the SA-LOSO at trials. Leanne felt uncomfortable about switching back and forth and hadn't competed the BHS-LOSO since 2019
    • Armine tried to construct beam routines so she could watch without getting nervous. Casted doubts on some skills and didn't believe she could do the combination skills. Found it hard to believe in herself when her coach had doubts, but the coach also had a lot more experience than her. Decided to keep the SA-LOSO
 
Chapter 20, Part 2
  • Verification
    • Was surprised to place in the top four for physical abilities
    • Was complimented on her flexibility, which made her proud because she'd worked hard on it
    • Verifying floor–stuck her Silivas, but short on her whip triple. Struggled with timing on her first two passes
    • Did a DTY for vault and her 2.5 beam dismount for the first time because she'd been struggling on the last quarter of her triple–she would lose .3 in difficulty and .5 on the landing
    • Had the highest E-score on bars at the camp
    • Verified a 56.1
    • At the end of camp, overhead Kayla's coach talking to Tatiana about Kayla having had the exact some issue with her stalder Leanne had had
  • Training for Worlds
    • Always taken National Team camps too seriously and put too much pressure on herself
    • Felt differently now
    • In the gym, felt better without the pressure of coaches standing over her watching everything
    • Always knew what she needed to do, how fast to move from all the experience she had–didn't need anyone to tell her
    • Al said she did everything on Leanne time, but she felt Leanne time worked better on her terms. Recalls Al being upset with her at one of the camps
      • Wanted her to get on the beam, she was stretching on the floor. Felt the needed to stretch to avoid pulling muscles. Turned her back on him to stretch the other leg
      • Felt his temperature and heart rate rise–despite her being quick, he was angry with her
      • In every meeting with her coaches and parents the coaches complained about Leanne time
    • Went faster when no one was telling her her to speed up
    • Since her return, Mr. Alex was the only coach really watching her, in case she needed a spot on bars. Gym moms noticed she was more consistent in training for Worlds than for the Olympics
    • At camp, Tom praised her for being self-motivated and her effort
    • Mom said she was smiling more and seemed more relaxed than previous camps
  • Literal dreams
    • Some people think God talks to them through dreams
    • Before first JO Nationals:
      • Saw a side view of a competition leo on a gymnast; design wasn't revealed
      • Later saw a post of a gymnast who was wearing the same leo as in her dream
    • Olympic Trials
      • Dreamed she placed 4th AA but didn't make the team, with Grace getting the spot
  • Selection Camp Oct 7-10
    • Were original ten people competing for spots, but four withdrew. Competitors were eMjae, Kayla, Olivia, Cienna, Konnor, and Leanne
    • Started having more performance anxiety, which impacted performance. Mom joked it was because Al was there–he hadn't been at the Sept camp
    • Had both coaches with her
    • Good but not great floor and beam routines
    • Kayla was first, for the automatic spot
    • eMjae was second, Leanne third, Konnor fourth
    • Prayed, kept a positive mindset, practice with consistency
    • Training had its ups and downs. On a rough day where Armine was really unhappy with her practice, she saw a truck with a license plate referencing one of her favorite Bible verses
    • For Day 2 of competition, did well on the bar routine she hadn't done great on one the first day. Played it safe, didn't connect her pak to shaposh half
    • Did not want to be an alternate, would have gone to college if she had been chosen as one
    • Relieved to be named to the team at the official announcement (also Kayla, eMaje, and Konnor–the top four AAers. She calls this out every time it happens)
    • Had two more practices after, everyone had great workouts. Hitting her routines consistently gave her a lot of self confidence.
 
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