THREE MUST-DO'S
April 2020
Braids & Bows
Two to three hours before warm-up starts. Each girl gets their hair braided specifically to the qualifications they request. Whether that be a braid, two braids, three, four, heck even five braids some gymnasts request. When the hair is braided and the clips are put in hairspray is applied and applied and applied AND applied. Having your hair correct for the meet not only puts the gymnast in a comfortable physical position but also a comfortable mental state. This confirms all is right in their looks and body and that will translate to the gymnastics floor as well. The last step in this process is perfectly placing that red, blue, purple, pink, gold, black and whatever else color the gymnastics picks for their bows to place in their hair. Some girls have certain people place their ribbons in their hair and others do it alone. Me, yep I do my own because I like it a certain way, but hey aren’t all gymnasts perfectionists?
Tape and Temperature
The second door on the right. That room on the right. Yep. That is where the warm-up begins. The warm tubs in the back right-hand corner are where any OU gymnast begins their competition warm-up. The warm tub lasts anywhere from five to ten minutes. Next, you go to the rolling station where an athlete can choose what they think is tight or sore. After all the muscles are warm and rolled out the trainer tapes whatever ailment is needed. My right ankle is bad, but the left even worse. Two taped ankles and an OU tattoo on the face and we are out of there. Onto the competition floor, we go and it is pre-meet warm up time.
High fives and Handshakes
The last couple of steps before my name is announced happens in the locker room. Head coach KJ does her ritual pre-meet talk then all us girls line up. The oldest seniors give high fives to us all in class order than we slap the “compete like a champion” sign and down into the tunnel we go. When you enter the tunnel you hear the roar of the crowd as if they are about to see their favorite music artist. That noise is unforgettable. Handshakes happen with teammates that mean different things. Encouragement, passion, friendship, excitement, commitment, and more…all these may be different in origin but the handshakes confirm the hard work and dedication that is put in to get to these meets. Buckle up, it is a crazy ride!