Martin earns top Aggie honor
Utah Statesman: Does winning USU’s Athlete of the Week mean very much to you?
Alex Martin: I really didn’t think about it. I thought it was really cool that I won it. It’s not important to me, not like I set out to win it, but it is nice that I won it.
US: What brought you to Utah State?
AM: I came to Utah State because I like the gymnastics program, I like all the coaches, and the school is good.
US: How important is it to you to help out your team?
AM: It is really important, because now it is a team sport and in club I wasn’t used to it. We’re all together and we want to achieve the highest standard.
US: Does the way you’re performing surprise you?
AM: I just perform and do the things I usually do in practice, you compete what you practice, so it wasn’t really a shock to me. I’m just doing what I normally do.
US: Has there been a person that you have tried to be like?
AM: No, I try to be like myself, [but] there are people I look up to. Basically I just try to be me and improve myself.
US: What are your plans for after college?
AM: My degree, I’m not sure in what yet, probably business and have a family.
US: When you were younger did you ever think you would compete at the collegiate level?
AM: It wasn’t until I started getting into the higher levels. I know that I didn’t want to go to the Olympics because I don’t want that much stress. So I’m going to be in college gymnastics.
US: What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not practicing?
AM: Listening and downloading music, dance, hang out with my friends.
US: What keeps you motivated?
AM: I’ve been doing it so long, it is just a part of my life, and it is so fun. I like all the girls; we’re all sisters. Coaches always want us to get better. I’m a perfectionist, so I always want to get better.
US: How old were you when you started in gymnastics?
AM: Seven.
US: Was gymnastics always it for you or did you want to do something else?
AM: Oh, I liked other things. I did dance and I did basketball for a little bit. I was going to run track, but I didn’t have time. In high school, the last couple years I did the dance team. I did other stuff and hung out with my friends, but it was basically gymnastics.
US: What got you started in gymnastics?
AM: My mom and my grandma, because I was flipping off the couches and stuff.
US: Is there anybody that you credit most of your success to?
AM: My parents, because they kept me motivated, always asked me if I still liked it. They were always there for me when I was younger, taking me to the gym every day, picking me up and having dinner ready.
US: What are your plans for this weekend?
AM: We’re just going to go out there and do our best, like we’ve always been doing. I think we’re going to do a lot better now that we have our first win under our belts.
US: How was your first win?
AM: It was awesome. We wanted to win but we were more focused on hitting our routines. I think the focus on hitting our routines made us win, and we got scores because we hit our routines.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu