Continuing our coverage of our 2019 Eastern National Champions with the Junior 8 Balance Beam & Floor Exercise C0-Champion Sherrye Zhong of Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi, Michigan. Sherrye, in her 2nd Eastern Nationals also placed 8th in the All-Around and helped her team take the top spot for Region 5 in the Team competition, shared her Event honors with two other Region 5 Athletes. So, I guess if you are going to tie might as well tie with teammates. What I love most about this athletes is the joy and happiness she expresses while competing, she always has a smile on her face even if things are not going right. Sherrye may be tiny, but definitely has a big presence in her gymnastics, especially in her floor routine. If you haven’t seen her routine yet please check it out on our Youtube page, her dance is dramatic, expressive and sharp along with powerful tumbling she will definitely be “one to watch” heading into this coming season. Sherrye, who is a sophomore in high school, will be joining the ranks of Level 10 this coming season, so let’s get to know Sherrye a little better as she prepares to kick off her 2019-2020 season in December with the 2019 MEGA Magic meet.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was at an open gym and I 
grew into the sport. I started when I was 6 1/2
What is your favorite event? I love competing beam, I love the challenging aspect of beam and I love performing on beam also.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? I love to train rays on bars
Dream Skill?I would really love to learn an arabian on beam and compete it also
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I love the competitiveness and meeting new people everywhere I go.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at was eastern regionals. I loved representing region 5 and meeting life long friends.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? I think me biggest accomplishment so far was making it to two eastern national meets. They both were super fun and gave me a lot of experience.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Peng Peng Lee the most. I love her attitude in the gym, and her determination to get back into the sport after her injuries.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I love Making Moves 
Monday, the girls help me push myself and try different skills.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I have a playlist filled with songs that are calming, I do best when I’m calm
3 Things you could not live without? I couldn’t live without my phone, my family, and my friends
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be a panda bc everyone thinks i’m pretty chill
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag?The 5 Most important or Must have items in my gym bag would be food, grips, tape, kt tape, water
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Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? My pre-meet rituals would be that I always listen to music
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of Gymnastics I like to hang out with friends, baking, and sleeping
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? An embarrassing meet moment would be when I was level 4, I was super short so I penguin slid at my first meet on vault.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a Gymnast 
I would try volleyball or dance
How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? To be the Level 9 Eastern National Beam and Floor National Champion feels really good, I feel like I accomplished a lot and my hard work paid off
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable Nationals moment would be this year when I won 8th All around at eastern nationals even though I messed up on vault.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? My coach once told me a story about her gymnastics career, and how she couldn’t compete at the collegiate level. This was the time I didn’t want to do gymnastics, and after that talk I really started to enjoy the sport again.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I have two older brothers and I am from Canada
