1. Name, Age, Hometown
Maddie Karr, 17, Stillwater, Minn.
2. Do you have a nickname?
“Karr,” “Karrll”
3. In what cities do you live and train?
I live in Stillwater, but I train in Champlin, Minn.
4. When and why did you first become interested in gymnastics?
I loved going to the park to swing on the monkey bars and so my parents decided to put me in gymnastics classes right away.
5. Do you have any good/funny memories from when you first started taking gymnastics classes?
When I was little, I was obsessed with the vault. I used to take pillow cushions for landing mats and vault right over the armrest of the couch.
6. When did you decide you wanted to compete? And, when did you want to compete on the elite level? What about competition appeals to you?
I always loved showing everyone what I could do, so I started right away at age 7 competing. I love the feeling when you hit a brand new routine in front of judges and having a big score flash.
7. What is your training regimen? Was that a big change when you made the switch to competitive gymnastics?
I train Monday-Friday from 2:30-6:30 p.m, and in the summers,Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The change I think was more demanding on my parents more than me because of the time commitment. It was easy for me because I loved being in the gym all the time.
8. What is your favorite event?
Bars/Beam
9. What is your favorite skill?
Pak full
10. What music do you use for your floor routine?
A mix thrown together by Dominic Zito.
11. Who is your favorite gymnast or who is your “idol”?
Jessie DeZiel – She taught me the ropes of being a Level 10 gymnast at Twin City Twisters, and now, it is so much fun to see all of her success at the University of Nebraska!
12. How have you grown as a gymnast during your career, both skill wise and mentally?
As I’ve gotten older, I have definitely been smarter with my gymnastics. I’ve tried to prevent as many injuries as possible, and I think that has truly paid off.
13. How has gymnastics helped you as a person?
It has helped me to understand and look at life in more of a big picture. Gymnastics is hard work day in and day out. If you don’t have the big picture sense, it is easy to drown in the rough days.
14. If you had to select one life-lesson that gymnastics has taught you, what would it be?
Never ever give up. Most things worth having take a long time to achieve.
15. What are your biggest accomplishments or best memories in your career?
Taking second at J.O. Nationals last year and committing to the University of Denver are days I will always remember. I am so thankful for the opportunities gymnastics has given me to travel all around the U.S.
16. What grade are you in school, and where do you go to school?
Junior at Stillwater Area High School
17. Do you want to compete in collegiate gymnastics?
Yes!
18. What are your favorite subjects, etc.?
Math
19. If you plan to go to college, do you know what you want to study there?
Math and music.
20. What are your goals for the future, both as an athlete and after you are finished competing?
I want to continue on my gymnastics career at the University of Denver and stay healthy. I hope to graduate and join the Circus in Las Vegas but also settle down and have a family. I want to travel the world, as well.
21. When you’re not in the gym, how do you enjoy spending your time? Do you have any hobbies or favorite activities? Charities?
I love reading and playing the violin! I also spend a lot of my time watching/playing hockey especially since I live in the state of hockey.
22. What is your favorite food?
Sushi
23. What is your favorite movie?
Harry Potter series
24. What is your favorite book?
Percy Jackson series
25. What is your favorite music group?
Timeflies
26. Are any of your family members current or former athletes? Which sports?
Mom- College softball at the University of St. Bens
Dad- Hockey, Football, College Baseball at the University of St. Johns
27. Do you have any competition rituals? Lucky charms?
I wear a grey bracelet on my right arm at all times. Sometimes, I doodle with chalk on my grips before I compete.
28. 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?
Mainly pop. I enjoy all types of music. Before a meet I usually listen to Timeflies, “All the Way.”
29. If you had to pick 3 words to describe yourself as a gymnast, what are they?
Competitive, Artistic, Confident
30. What 3 words describe you as a person, not the gymnast?
Musical, Friendly, Responsible
Q: Do you have a nickname?
“Karrll or Carlos.”
Q: When and why did you first become interested in gymnastics?
“When I was little I picked up the monkey bars really easily, and all the other moms at the park were just amazed. My mom decided to put me in preschool classes.”
Q: Do you have any good/funny memories from when you first started taking gymnastics classes?
“When I first started, I was obsessed with the vault and so every day when I got home from the gym, I would take the seat cushions from the couch and put them on the side of the arm rest and pretend it was a vault. I would literally vault right over the arm rest.”
Q: When did you decide you wanted to compete?
“I was about 6 or 7 years old when I first started competing.”
And, when did you want to compete on the elite level? What about competition appeals to you?
“I just love going out there and showing everyone all the new things we work on in the gym. The best part is when you nail that one skill you’ve struggled on in the gym and doing it in front of a crowd is just an amazing feeling.”
Q: What is your training regimen? Was that a big change when you made the switch to competitive gymnastics?
“I train Monday to Friday for around four hours per day. Switching from a two to three day week to a five day week was hard. My parents had to take more time out of their days to drive, which was hard, but it was definitely worth it in the end.”
Q: What is your favorite event?
“Beam.”
Q: What is your favorite skill?
“Onodi.”
Q: What music do you use for your floor routine?
“I had Dominic Zito do my floor routine, and he also gave me my floor music.”
Q: Who is your favorite gymnast or who is your “idol”?
“Maggie Nichols. Training beside her everyday really pushes me to work hard. We are such good friends in and out of the gym that we have a little battle always going between us like who can do the harder skill or who can do it with the littlest form deduction. Without her, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Q: How have you grown as a gymnast during your career, both skill wise and mentally?
“As I get older, I get smarter with my gymnastics. I try to prevent as many injuries as possible, and I think that has really paid off.”
Q: How has gymnastics helped you as a person?
“It has taught me how to really set a goal and go for it. Even though you might have a bad day here and there, those are the days that help you learn and set you apart from those who might give up.”
Q: If you had to select one life-lesson that gymnastics has taught you, what would it be?
“Hard work truly pays off in the end.”
Q: What are your biggest accomplishments or best memories in your career?
“Last year, I made the J.O. National team and got to go train at the Olympic training center with a bunch of other high level gymnasts and definitely made friendships and memories I will never forget.”
Q: Do you want to compete in collegiate gymnastics?
“Yes! I just recently verbally committed to the University of Denver. Go Pios!”
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 would like to major in Mathematics and maybe minor in music.”
Q: What are your goals for the future?
“I hope to be an all-around J.O. national champ, and hopefully stay healthy and continue on to a NCAA career. Once I’m done competing, I would like to settle down somewhere and have a family, and hopefully, pass on my passion of gymnastics.”
Q: When you’re not in the gym, how do you enjoy spending your time? Do you have any hobbies or favorite activities? Charities?
“I enjoy reading, playing hockey, and spending time with family and friends. At Twin City Twisters, we like to give back to the community and do things like Feed my Starving Children or make sandwiches for the homeless, which is always so much fun having the whole team spend time outside of the gym together.”
Q: What is your favorite food?
“Grilled shrimp.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
“Miracle.”
Q: What is your favorite book?
“Divergent.”
Q: Who is your favorite music group/artist?
“Timeflies.”
Q: Are any of your family members current or former athletes? Which sports?
“My brother Sam, who is 13, plays hockey, lacrosse, and golf. My other brother Ben, who is 10, plays hockey and baseball.”
Q: Do you have any competition rituals? Lucky charms?
“I always wear a grey wristband underneath my ‘leo’ on my right wrist every time that I compete. It says ‘Be a Warrior Today.'”
Q: What’s on your IPod right now? What type of music do you enjoy listening to? How about before a meet when you’re trying to get focused and pumped up?
“A lot of pop songs and some country. I like to listen to songs like “We Own It” before meets to get me pumped up.”
Q: If you had to pick 3 words to describe yourself as a gymnast, what are they?
“Competitive, smooth, bubbly.”
Q: What 3 words describe you as a person, not the gymnast?
“Outgoing, friendly, musical.”