USA Team Conference Conducted in USA (15th November, 2005)

Team USA held a press conference in Huntsville, Texas USA early Tuesday morning.

Steve Penny (USA Gymnastics President) gave his views on the women’s team.

‘In the year that we transition out of the Olympic year, continuing the legacy of the next generation is important to USA Gymnastics.’

‘Leaders like Chellsie (Memmel) and Alicia (Sacramore) have shown coming out of the Olympic year, a presence on the international stage. Jana (Bieger) and Nastia (Liukin) are talents that have emerged from the junior ranks.’

‘Chellsie and Alicia have already demonstrated their strength and dynamic routines against the world’s best and Nastia and Jana will be showing the rest of the world what they can do on the world stage. I know we will be well represented in Melbourne.’

Jana Bieger (Age 16, Coconut Creek, Florida)

On herself outside of gymnastics:
‘I just turned 16 on Saturday. We had the competition on (at the US Team Training Camp). I guess I gave myself my own birthday present.’

On receiving news of her selection on the World Championships team:
‘(It was) at camp and we had two competitions. I was excited to represent the USA. When we finished the competition, Marta (Karoyli) and the selectors went into a room to discuss the team. We all lined up and they told us. Everyone was nervous and just hoped to make the Worlds team.’

On being forced to change training venues after the hurricanes in Florida:
‘We had to move to Tampa for two weeks. It was a good change for me. It is good to get used to new equipment. In the worst places you can always have that happen. I was training at Lightning City. It was a nice gym which I needed. Change is always good. You always need to get used to changes in equipment and environment.’

On her favourite apparatus and her current form:
‘I don’t really have a favourite, I like them all equally. They (selectors) haven’t decided (who will compete on each apparatus in Melbourne) but I could do what they want me to do.’

On having a former Olympic gymnast as a coach and mother:
‘It’s really great working with her (mother, Andrea Bieger). I can tell her anything. Don’t even need to tell her when something is wrong, she can tell.’

On having her mother on the World Championships team coaching staff:
‘I’m happy she’s here and she’s my coach. She can help me. I can do things with her you can’t do with a regular coach.’

Nastia Liukin (16, Plano, Texas)

On her recent knee injury:
‘It is 100 per cent better. I am ready for all four events. They haven’t assigned us but I’m prepared . We’re training hard, so we will wait and see.’

On coming from behind to win the 2005 National all around title and whether this has given her confidence for the Worlds:
‘Coming from behind is a good experience. It was awesome winning. You know afterwards that you have got to keep training. We’ve got lots of teams, so we had to get ready for training camp.’

On the 2005 World Championships in Melbourne and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games:
‘My focus is on the Worlds right now, this is where we are at. 2008 is a long way away. We’ve got a lot of competitions between now and then.’

On whether her mother (former rhythmic gymnast, Anna Liukin) will be travelling to Australia for Worlds to support her:
‘I really don’t think about anyone in the stands (when I am competing). Mum knows I am focussing on my routines.’

On whether it is a disadvantage for the US women having the team finalised so close to the event:
‘It doesn’t help or hurt. We are all together as a team and we’ve had time together to train at our National Centre.’

On who will compete in the all around at Worlds:
‘We’re all prepared. It would be cool too if me and Chellsie (Memmel) did the all around.’

On whether she will perform the 3 ½ and quadruple twist in Melbourne:
I haven’t decided 100 per cent on my routines. I will go over it and see how it feels over there. Either is still possible.’

Alicia Sacra more (Age 18, Winchester, Massachusetts)

On herself outside of gymnastics:
‘I am excited cause it is my first World Championships’.

On her recent signing to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA):
‘I was looking at a bunch of schools. I visited a few times by myself. I decided it was the best school for me. If I want to go on to 2008 (Beijing Olympic Games) it’s the best school for me.’

Chellsie Memmel (Age 17, West Allison, Wisconsin)

On herself:
‘I am excited because it is my first time going to Australia.’

On the US women’s team and whether she will continue through to the 2008 Olympic Games:
‘We are really prepared and excited for the future. I haven’t made the decision yet. I will talk with parents and everyone after Worlds.’

On this US team compared to the 2003 Worlds team:
‘It is hard to compare. This is an individual world championships, the other was a team. We are well prepared and confident, so we will hopefully do well.’

On working with her dad, coach Andrew Memmel for the past year:
‘It is really great. We work well together. We have better communication. I can change practice around if something is bothering me.’

On what she learnt from the 2003 World Championships and what she is looking forward to in Melbourne:
‘We want to see the koala bears (sic) after the competition. In 2003 it taught me that anything can happen and be as prepared as you can be. You have to be ready for anything.’

Marta Karolyi (USA Women’s National Team Coordinator)

On the team:
‘It is a strong team combination. With Chellsie and the other girls, they are all very ambitious. We also have two new gymnasts (Bieger and Liukin) who are showing strength and dedication to the sport.’

On the depth of USA Women’s gymnastics:
‘This is how it is supposed to be. We systematically do training camps, selecting younger kids and putting them through training. They don’t just pop up. This is why it is smoother going from one Olympic cycle to the other.’

On the team for Worlds:
‘We are confident going into Worlds. We will do everything we can and represent the US with pride.’

‘Regardless of whether it is an Olympic year or not an Olympic year, you want to be proud of your routines and represented well.’

On Chellsie Memmel:
‘She is always a good competitor. She is a little fighter. I am confident in her strength. She did well in 2003 (World Championships). I am foreseeing the same attitude for this competition.’

On whether she could still be considered for the 2008 Olympic tea, at her age:
‘She could be in the mix. We would be happy to have her.’

On the competition from other countries in Melbourne:
‘Usually I do not look at the results. I expect good performances and strong competition from around the world. There are strong competitors. Our gymnasts are contenders for top places.’