Feb. 25, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. ET
Kentucky International Convention Center - Louisville, Ky.

Rachel Baumann

2016

Rachel Baumann

Hometown:
Plano, Texas

Age:
15

Gym:
WOGA
Plano, Texas

Qualifying Meet:
WOGA Classic

            Bio

Q: Do you have a nickname?
A: Rach

Q: When and why did you first become interested in gymnastics?
A: I started gymnastics when I was 3 because my sister encouraged me to start taking classes at WOGA.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to compete? And, when did you want to compete at a high level?
A: I knew that I wanted to compete when I was 5 years old. I wanted to follow in my sister’s footsteps and become a high level athlete. I watched her grow up and become so successful and I really wanted to do the same thing.

Q: What about competition appeals to you?
A: I love the excitement of competing and showing everyone the skills that you work so hard to learn.

Q: What is your training regimen?
A: I train 36 hours a week.

Q: What is your favorite event?
A: I like rising to the challenge and learning new skills on beam.

Q: What music do you use for your floor routine?
A: Tempest from Cirque du soleil

Q: Who is your favorite gymnast or who is your “idol”?
A: My sister is my idol. She gives me advice everyday in the gym. She is really successful and I want to be like her.

Q: How have you grown as a gymnast during your career, both skill wise and mentally?
A: Competing at a high level is challenging but dealing with those challenges has helped me grow as a person. Gymnastics has helped me to become a better person.

Q: If you had to select one life-lesson that gymnastics has taught you, what would it be?
A: Train hard and always believe in yourself.

Q: What are your biggest accomplishments or best memories in your career?
A: Competing at Secret Classic in 2014 was a huge accomplishment. It was my first big elite meet, and I placed second on beam and third on floor.

Q: What grade are you in school, and where do you go to school?
A: I’m a freshman at Spring Creek Academy.

Q: Do you want to compete in collegiate gymnastics?
A: I committed to the University of Georgia, and I’m really excited to go there in 2019.

Q: What are your favorite subjects in school?
A: Math

Q: When you’re not in the gym, how do you enjoy spending your time? Do you have any hobbies or favorite activities?
A: I love shopping.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Chocolate

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: The Hunger Games

Q: What is your favorite artist or music group?
A: Taylor Swift

Q: Do you have any competition rituals? Lucky charms?
A: I really like talking to my sister before a competition.

Q: What’s on your IPod right now? What type of music do enjoy listening to? How about before a meet when you’re trying to get focused and pumped up?
A: I listen to Taylor Swift and Rachel Platten.

Q: If you had to pick 3 words to describe yourself as a gymnast, what are they?
A: Determined, hard worker and focused

2014

Rachel Baumann

Hometown:
Plano, Texas

Age:
13

Gym:
WOGA
Plano, Texas

Qualifying Meet:
Texas Prime Meet

            Bio

Q: When and why did you first become interested in gymnastics?
“I started gymnastics in 2003 when I was 3 years-old. I had already been going to WOGA to take my older sister, Alyssa Baumann. She is still at WOGA with me and is currently on the U.S. National Team.”

Q: When did you decide you wanted to compete? What about competition appeals to you?
“I always remember enjoying competition. My first meet was an in-house meet before I was even on a competitive team. It was fun and eventually I joined the competitive team. This is my first year Level 10, but I am hoping to test elite in the future.”

Q: What is your training regimen? Was that a big change when you made the switch to competitive gymnastics?
“My training schedule is for seven hours, Monday through Thursday, and four hours, Friday and Saturday. When I switched from recreational to competitive, the biggest change was going from one practice a day to twice a day.”

Q: What is your favorite event?
“Beam.”

Q: What is your favorite skill?
“My beam series, which includes my side aerial layout because it is different from most people’s.”

Q: What music do you use for your floor routine?
“Orchestra hip hop.”

Q: Who is your favorite gymnast or who is your “idol”?
“My sister, Alyssa Baumann, and Nastia Liukin! I look up to Alyssa because she overcame injuries and came back in 2013 and made the U.S. National Team. We help each other in gym and encourage each other. It helps to have someone at home who understands my life. I loved watching Nastia train, and it was so exciting seeing her prepare for the Olympics and then win the gold medal. I always looked up to Nastia because she was an amazing gymnast and so nice to everyone in the gym.”

Q: How have you grown as a gymnast during your career, both skill wise and mentally?
“I feel like I have changed a lot in the last two years. Two years ago, I was starting Level 8 and now I am going to the Nastia Liukin Cup!”

Q: How has gymnastics helped you as a person?
“Gymnastics has taught me discipline, how to be tough, not to give up, and most of all, to believe in myself.”

Q: If you had to select one life-lesson that gymnastics has taught you, what would it be?
“To never give up. There have been meets where I have fallen or not started well, but was able to come back and win.”

Q: What are your biggest accomplishments or best memories in your career?
“My biggest accomplishments are winning Level 9 Regionals and Westerns last year.”

Q: Do you want to compete in collegiate gymnastics?
“Yes.”

Q: What are your favorite subjects in school?
“Math.”

Q: If you plan to go to college, do you know what you want to study there?
“I want to study computer science.”

Q: What are your goals for the future, both as an athlete and after you are finished competing?
“I want to compete at the Olympics and become a professional computer engineer.”

Q: When you’re not in the gym, how do you enjoy spending your time? Do you have any hobbies or favorite activities?
“I enjoy shopping.”

Q: What is your favorite food?
“Chocolate.”

Q: What is your favorite movie?
“Catching Fire.”

Q: What is your favorite book?
“Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief.”

Q: Who is your favorite musician?
“Selena Gomez.”

Q: Are any of your family members current or former athletes? Which sports?
“My sister, Alyssa Baumann, is a gymnast with me at WOGA and she just turned senior elite this year and is on the U.S. National Team.”

Q: What’s on your iPod right now? What type of music do enjoy listening to? How about before a meet when you’re trying to get focused and pumped up?
“I like to listen on my Beats to Girl On Fire, Naturally, Like a champion, #thatPOWER. In general I like pop music.”

Q: If you had to pick three words to describe yourself as a gymnast, what are they?
“Powerful, focused and determined.”

Q: What three words describe you as a person, not the gymnast?
“Friendly, energetic and positive.”

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