J.O. Nationals 2016

We are the Champions: Kyla Bryant Brings Down the House

We are the Champions: Kyla Bryant Brings Down the House

To follow up on the level 10 season and the new Junior Olympic national champions, we're highlighting the top all-arounders over the next few weeks.Today, w

May 28, 2016 by Rebecca Johnson
We are the Champions: Kyla Bryant Brings Down the House
To follow up on the level 10 season and the new Junior Olympic national champions, we're highlighting the top all-arounders over the next few weeks.

Today, we caught up with Senior D champion,

KYLA BRYANT.


Bryant, of Georgia Elite Gymnastics, scored a 38.70 at Nationals to clinch the all-around in her age group. She put in very focused training leading up to J.O. Nationals, which allowed her to go all out when it was competition time.

FloGymnastics: Take me through your winning competition at Nationals:
Kyla Bryant: I started on bars, so I was super pumped about my rotation. I had a solid warm-up, and I was feeling extremely prepared—so when it was my time to compete, I told myself:

Leave nothing on the table. Give it everything you’ve got.
I went up and hit my bar routine and even stuck my dismount!

Next was beam, which is one of the events that will make or break a competition. My mission for beam was to stay confident, refrain from doubt, and to know that I’m in control of what happens. So as you can imagine, I was very happy to have hit my routine.

With floor next, I was excited because that’s my favorite event. My goal for floor was to just have fun, smile, and turn some heads. I received a career-high of a 9.800 on floor, so I was super happy.

With vault last, I just wanted to keep the dice rolling and finish my meet strong. Again, I told myself to give it everything I had, and with that, I finished vault strong.

When did you find out that you won?
My teammates actually told me right after I finished my last event (vault) and to be honest, I didn’t believe them and I cried a little before awards because I was so overjoyed!

What is the best part about becoming a national champion?
Becoming a person that little girls can look up to. The idea of being the source of motivation and hope for a young gymnast is the most humbling feeling ever. It also puts things into perspective for me as person and knowing that I achieved a goal that I thought was unreachable.

Do you have upgrades you’re excited to learn?
Yes, I’ve been playing around with Yurchenko double fulls on vault.


Rapid fire questions:


What do you love most about gymnastics?
There’s something about competing that is so thrilling and exciting for me. I love every second I spend out on the floor.

What is your first memory of doing gymnastics?
Learning a back hip circle in a beginners class.

What keeps you motivated in the gym?
When I think of all the sacrifices that my parents have made for me; I want everything to be worth it not just for myself, but for them.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
A morning person… When I have conversations in the morning, I am very energetic. It doesn't matter if it’s 5:50 a.m.—I’m ready to get the day started!


Bryant will be a senior next year and is looking forward to her final season of J.O. competition, as well as signing to the college of her choice.


Related:
We are the Champions: Taylor Houchin
We are the Champions Maddie Karr