This week's Friday Focus features Maggie O'Hara, an outstanding level 10 gymnast from Southeastern Gymnastics Center. O'Hara most recently competed at JO Nationals where she scored a 37.9 for seventh place in Senior A. She also earned a 9.65 for second place on bars. Earlier this season she competed at the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup where she placed sixth all-around. O'Hara has committed to the University of Michigan where she will join the team in the fall of 2016. 


If you weren’t doing gymnastics, what would you be doing?
Probably soccer, my brothers both play soccer and I used to play on an all boys team with my older brother. I loved soccer, I just didn't have the time. 

 

Have you ever done anything embarrassing in practice? Competition?
At my first meet ever, when I was level 4, I wore a leotard that was 2 sizes too small. Needless to say, I mooned the arena for the entirety of the competition, and I never picked my wedgie! 

 

If you had a day off from practice, how would you spend your free time?
I enjoy spending my free time hanging in my ENO or just chilling with friends and family. 

 

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a physical therapist with special needs kids, and I still do! 

Describe your worst habit.
Procrastination, both in gym and school, I've mastered the art of procrastinating and waiting as long as humanly possible to get my worst assignments done. 

 

What is your most bizarre pet peeve?
I can't stand feet, they disgust me. I absolutely hate it when people put their feet on me or near me, which is bizarre because I train with a bunch of girls whose feet touch all of the same equipment as I do.

How would you describe your personality? 

I would say I'm a very open, bubbly person. I love to have a good time and I'm not shy around anyone, I just like to be myself. 

 

What is your worst habit in the gym?
Definitely working too slow, my coach tells me at least 10 times a day to work faster.

 

Who are three of your role models outside the gym?
My parents are definitely two of them, and I'd say Bethany Hamilton, the surfer, is another big one. 

 

Who are two gymnasts you admire most? 
I have always loved Shawn Johnson, from the first time I saw her on TV, her personality and her gymnastics were always some things I wanted to duplicate in my own life. And another would have to be Kerri Strug because pushing through a slight injury is one thing, but competing on a broken leg, and landing on one leg to top the competition, just blows my mind. I would love to have the strength she had in the 1996 Olympics. 

 

Pick one word to describe your attitude/personality in the gym.
Funny- people in the gym call me the "Jim Carrey" of Southeastern because I love to make people laugh. 

 

What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to overcome in gymnastics?
I avulsed my patella in the 6th grade, which left me in a full leg cast for 2 months, and a lot of hard work, gone, as I missed that entire season. A week or two after I got my cast off, my coaches moved back to New Jersey and I was devastated that they were leaving. This was definitely a breaking point as I had to decide whether I wanted to continue to do gymnastics, and if so, what direction I wanted to take with it. At the time I was training for my first real season as a junior elite hopeful and after my coaches left, there wasn't another gym quite like it, that was within a reasonable amount of time. So I dropped back to ten, and a season later, I found myself in the doors of Southeastern, ready for a new beginning as a 3rd year level 10. 

 

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?
Brother by NEEDTOBREATHE and Gavin Degraw, definitely one of those songs that can pump you up and calm you down, a good pre-meet song. 

 

What song would you sing at Karaoke night?
No one wants to hear me sing karaoke, but if I got to choose my song, it would probably be the Start of Something New from High School Musical because that has to be the ultimate karaoke scene/song. 

 

Who is your best friend and how did you meet?
Either Hallie Peele, who is one of my teammates, and practically my twin. She has to be one of the funniest people I've ever met, or Maddy Osman, who's one of my future teammates. I met her at some Region 8 related functions, but I really got to know her after she committed and we're as close as sisters. 


 

Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?
I am distantly related to Gwyneth Paltrow, which I find super cool. 

 

How would your friends describe you?
Crazy- both personality-wise because I don't like boring anything, and because I drive 2 hours to go to gym everyday and people think that's a little "crazy." I just call it life on the road. 

 

Besides gymnastics, what is your favorite sport to watch/play?
I absolutely love watching football, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, as my family is from Pittsburgh. 

 

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Filet mignon, with kale chips, homemade mashed potatoes, and homemade applesauce, all of my favorites. 

 

What is your favorite memory as a gymnast, so far?
I would have to say, competing at the Nastia Liukin Cup was by far the most amazing experience I've ever had and I'm sure I will remember it forever. 

 

On a scale of 1-10 how funny would you say you are?
I'd say I was about a 7-8, people usually laugh at what I say and I can usually joke my way out of serious situation

 

What is your proudest accomplishment?
I would definitely say that my proudest accomplishment came when I committed to the University of Michigan. It just highlights that hard work pays off and I couldn't be anymore excited to participate in such prestigious programs, both academically and athletically. 


Related:
Friday Focus: Anna and Grace Glenn 
Friday Focus: Olivia Karas
Friday Focus: Rachael Lukacs