Memmel won a gold medal in the all-around at the 2005 World Championships and a team gold medal at the 2003 World Championships. Last week, Memmel took a few minutes out to talk to usolympicteam.com about her rehabilitation and her future.

Q1: How was the national team training camp that you just came back from?

It was good. I didn’t do too much. I left early because I’m still rehabbing my injuries, but it still went well.

Q2: What were some of the skills that you worked on while you were there?

I wasn’t doing any gymnastics. Just conditioning.

Q3: What are some of the goals you have leading up through the rest of the year and leading up to the Beijing Olympics?

Mostly the rest of the year I’d like to continue rehabbing my injuries and then get healthy in time for U.S. Championships and Worlds this year, and then next year definitely U.S. Championships and the Olympics.

Q4: Have you set any goals for yourself outside of gymnastics?

Not at the moment because we decided to take the year off college and then maybe even this next year so I can concentrate on gymnastics and once that’s over I can just put all my effort and energy into school.

Q5: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

Definitely winning world championships in 2005 and then again in 2003 winning it as a team.

Q6: What kind of feeling do you get when you win a world championship like that?

It’s really almost indescribable. It’s probably one of the best feelings ever. I still am almost kind of speechless towards it.

Q7: How do you learn to deal with pressure leading up to competitions?

You kind of learn it as you do more competitions. You just get more confident after you’ve had more experience and everything. There’s always going to be pressure. You just have to remember that you are trained for it and you are ready.

Q8: What do you do to prepare for it? Do you have any habits or anything like that?

No, not really. Just trying to black out a lot of the stuff and just go in and train, and then go back and relax and try not to think about all the extra stuff going on.

Q9: What do you do to relax in your free time?

When we are at competitions, all the girls who are on that trip probably hang out in someone’s room, just hanging out and talking.

Q10: What kind of things do you do when you are home?

Maybe be with my friends. Weekends I’ll definitely be with my friends. During the week just sitting at home, reading, or maybe shopping with my sister.

Q11: Where is your favorite place to shop?

I don’t really have a favorite place. I like just going and walking around the mall.

Q12: What is the best advice you would have for a younger gymnast who looks up to you?

Really, just have fun and work hard. Make goals and work towards them.

Q13: How were you first introduced to gymnastics?

Both my parents were gymnasts and worked in the gym. They now own a gym, but just from them.

Q14: How old were you the first time you competed?
I was four the first time I competed in the little compulsory competition.

Q15: What’s the first competition that you can remember?       

It all blurs together back then, but I definitely can remember my first elite competitions.

Q16: What gymnastic memories stands out in your mind the most?

Definitely 2003, because that was World Championships in Anaheim. That was my first major competition and we did so well. We pulled together one night during team finals.

Q17: What’s something about you that a lot of people might not know?
I’m a really shy person actually.

Q18: What’s your favorite event and your least favorite event?

My favorite event is bars. My least favorite is probably vault.

Q19: Why are those your favorite and least favorite?

Bars, I just love to do it and things just come pretty naturally to me on it and vault has always been the hardest event for me.

Q20: Why do you enjoy gymnastics so much?        

I just do. I love it. I love the training and I just love competing.

Q21: Can you take me through what a normal day is like for you?

Sure. When I’m healthy and training for a competition I will get up and go to the gym around 8:30 and train for a few hours, maybe until 10:30 or 11. Then most likely go to therapy and do some rehab, and go home and rest a little bit and then go back around 3 or 3:30 and then train until 6:30.

Q22: What kind of rehab are you doing right now?

Right now my shoulder and my foot.

Q23: How much time do you spend a day doing rehab?

Well, when I go to therapy I’m there for about an hour?

Q24: Do you have any idea what you might like to do after you are all done with gymnastics?

No, not really. I’d still love to be involved in the sport, coaching and helping out in the gym, stuff like that. But I definitely would like to have another job as well.