Darby Nelson of Cincinnati Gymnastics is finishing up her senior JO season, not only with CGA, but also Region 5. Once she graduates Darby will be taking her gymnastics talents onto the next level. She 
has signed to a full scholarship with the University of Pennsylvania. Darby is an extremely talented young athlete, she will contribute to UPenn on many events and stand out as supportive teammate. Darby is headed into Region 5 Championships in two weeks looking forward to representing CGA one last time and to qualify to a final JO Nationals. Lets get to know Darby Nelson a little bit better as she closes out her JO Club Career and prepares herself for College Life.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I started gymnastics when I
was a year and a half and I started with mommy and me classes. My mom started them because my brother did them and it was an activity to burn off some energy.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is beam
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is that it teaches many life lessons while
What college do you plan on attending? The University of Pennsylvania
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals because you get to meet new people and is a fun atmosphere.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Having the ability to continue gymnastics in college and JO Nationals
Favorite skill to train and/or compete I don’t have a favorite skill to train but my favorite event to train is beam
Dream skill? My dream skill would be a full in on floor
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire the lessons that I have learned and drive that I have gained in the sport that I can take with me wherever I go in life.
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still your very first leo? My favorite leotard is a blue, white, and yellow practice leotard and I unfortunately don’t still have my very first leotard.
What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is Miracle
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My favorite song before a meet is 
Here It Is with Flo Rida and Chris Brown
What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a pediatric oncologist
Where do you go to High School? Ursuline Academy
What is your favorite color? Any shade of blue
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I love to volunteer with Special Olympics and spend time with family and friends
Favorite Gymnastics Moment? My favorite gymnastics 
moment was when I caught my jaeger for the first time and feeling the rush of emotion and excitement
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast I would want to be a swimmer
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? If I could live anywhere I would live in Australia.
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would have lunch with Katherine Johnson. Through gymnastics, learning how to overcome obstacles and deal with adversity is a big lesson and Mary Jackson did just this at NASA being a woman in a male dominated field. I would love to learn how she handled the criticism and uncharted waters with ease and grace and how her knowledge learned in these situations could help us in the future.
Check out Darby Nelson’s 2016 JO National beam routine
