took some time off. I still have a huge passion
for gymnastics, and if that is missing, there’s no
way you’re going to be able to do it.
competition?’ But if you’re consistent enough
and don’t have to repeat yourself, those numbers are not that big. In my beam routine, fortunately, I didn’t have the pounding. On floor I
didn’t have the double flips except for the double front. It was the way my dad strategically
planned my routines that really helped me.
what you’re doing, you’re not
in shape, you’re dating the
You mention having the passion, but do
you feel you have the physical ability?
Definitely. The way we trained is a lot different
from other gyms and even other countries. We
did a lot of numbers, but it was very strategic. I
did five full beam routines and five of every skill,
every day. My bars routine was pretty long, so I
would do three or four complete routines a day
and three of each part. On floor, our assignment for the national team was only one full
floor routine every other day, but my dad and I
always did two full floor routines every other
day. It made me stronger. We didn’t pound until
I was broken. I took care of myself. I had
acupuncture twice a week, and massages three
times a week. Obviously there are freak accidents. My ankle injury (in 2006) was kind of
stupid, but sometimes you can’t avoid those.
Even in Beijing, we were there for about a
month before, training hard. People were like,
‘How are they going to last until the actual
wrong person, your clothing
line is stupid, and all this
So, what exactly is the status of your rela-
tionship with (2010 Olympic figure skating
champion) Evan Lysacek? We met at the
skating and gymnastics show, right after the
(2008) Olympics. He was dating (ice dancer)
Tanith (Belbin) at the time. I feel there’s always
a common bond between athletes. You know
what it is to work hard and you share a passion
for what you do. We became really good
friends. It’s hard being in any type of relation-
ship, for me, even if you dated someone nor-
mal [laughs]. So right now, with our schedules,
it’s hard. He lives out here (California). I think
we’re both at a point in our life where it’s like,
What do you do with your career? It’s really
great to know you have someone really close to
you who’s going through the same things. We
understand each other really
well. It’s been fun but kind of
crazy, too. You start out as
friends, and all of the sudden
you’re in the media and on the
cover of magazines, and
you’re like, ‘This is so weird.’
These two years have been an
amazing experience—the
good, the bad, the weird
[laughs].
stuff. I know it’s out there and
you can’t avoid it, but I really
think those kind of things
make you a stronger person.”
Liukin on the UCLA campus Liukin on the UCLA campus
friends, and most importantly, a great family
and great friends.
There is the side where people are not happy
with what you’re doing, you’re not in shape,
you’re dating the wrong person, your clothing
line is stupid, and all this stuff. I know it’s out
there and you can’t avoid it, but I really think
those kind of things make you a stronger person. Gymnastics has made me grow up a lot,
but these past two years have matured me. I
feel older than 21 at times, but at other times I
still feel 13. But I’m very fortunate for the sport
and what it’s brought me, because without it I
wouldn’t have this clothing line or be here
today. I’m not taking any of it for granted.
Being subject to public
scrutiny, then, how do you
handle it when people say
or write something about
you? [Something] that’s not
true? Gossip? Drama—there’s
drama. Obviously in gymnastics you have the crazy people,
the gossipers. But I always
stayed out of that. I never read
any of that stuff. That was
kind of a rule in our household. At every competition
there is a media day and then
tons of newspaper articles.
You see your picture on the
front page and you want to
read the article, but we’d
always save it till afterwards. It
worked out well, because as
much as you say it doesn’t
affect you, it can really play
mind games with you. If
you’ve never met this person
in your life and they’re writing
things, you’re like, ‘Oh, wow!’
It really can affect you. That’s
how I’ve tried to treat my life
outside gymnastics, as well. I
have so many supporters and
What have been the biggest adjustments
you’ve had to make to fame outside the
sport? You’re scrutinized and judged more
than in gymnastics. It’s what you’re wearing,
what you say, where you’re going to dinner,
who you’re dating. It’s been weird. I had to get
used to it. For a few months I think I was in a
little bit of shock, thinking, Why do these people care? This is my personal life. But when
you accomplish something like winning the
Olympic Games [laughing] … I was talking with
Evan (Lysacek). He was like, ‘Why do they even
care?’ I said, ‘Because you just won the
Olympics, and they want to know everything
about you.’
With your clothing line, promotions and
possibly London on your schedule, what
do you plan to do after 2012? I want to go to
school and graduate, whether it’s at SMU
(Southern Methodist University in Dallas) or
here (UCLA). I would like to major in international business, or some type of broadcasting
and communications. It’s difficult moving somewhere and not knowing anyone, and you never
know if those people want to be your friend just
because you won the Olympics or just because
of the person you are. It’s going to be difficult
going to college, trying to be normal and blend
in, but that’s part of life. You have to move on
with it, no matter what you decide to do. IG
John Crumlish has covered three Olympic Games and
12 world championships. He lives in Los Angeles.
