We are back! Our 20 Questions series took a few weeks off to revamp a few questions and 
select our featured athletes. This week we are focusing on 2018 JO National Qualifier and 2020 Graduating Senior, Naomi German, from Olympia Gymnastics! Naomi is an athlete that has kind of flown under the radar, but she is definitely an athlete to watch. Naomi is beautiful, graceful and powerful, she has some high flying and gravity defying skills, her leaps and jumps are in the rafters! I am very excited to feature this future MSU Spartan as well as follow her a little more in her Senior Season. Meet season has started and Naomi will be kicking off her final JO Season this weekend at the MAG Christmas Classic in Novi, Michigan. Let’s get to know Naomi a little better as she heads into her Senior season and makes a run at one last JO National Championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? My mom always thought gymnastics was cool but she never got the chance to do it so she decided to put my sister and I in it. I was 5 years old.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is Bars
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train/compete is my Piked Jaeger
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Nabieva on Bars
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is being a part of a close team who supports each other and push each other to become better
What college do you plan on attending? I will be attending Michigan State University in the fall
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is the Gymnastics on the Grand because it’s in December so it’s really festive
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far is being a JO Nationals Qualifier
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Feature or Series is the Yahtzee Awards!
What kinds of things really make you laugh? Stand up comedy really makes me laugh
3 Things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without are my phone, my family and Gymnastics
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be an eagle so I could fly super high
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? 5 Must have items in my gym bag would be a water bottle, hair ties, deodorant, tape and Joshua Tree Gym Balm
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I listen to Bob Marley in the car on the way to the meets
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of Gymnastics I like to travel and go to Basketball Games
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment was at my first ever gymnastics meet, I was 6 years old and in level 5, I forgot the beam routine. The only thing I could remember is that there was a cartwheel in there somewhere so I did one and then just got down off the beam.
Do you have a nickname? If so what Is the story behind it? At gymnastics everyone calls me “nome” or“nomes.” There’s no story behind it, it just kind of happened. I assume it’s because it shortens the name to one syllable making it easier to cheer.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect Michel Jordan because of how confident and consistent of an athlete he was and how he has all the accolades to show for it. Furthermore, he was able to win three championships in a row, retire and do minor league baseball, and then go back to basketball and win three more in a row.
Something you learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? Something I learned from Gymnastics and take with me would be to stick with it through the hard times because it’s only temporary, but in the end it will pay off.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable JO 
Nationals Moment would be just the comradery and team spirit region 5 at nationals and how fun the whole experience was.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most vault piece of advice or wisdom my coach has given me would be to SMILE– there is researcher that shows that smiling actually boosts your mood at others’ around you and can actually increase your performance.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I was born in England and moved to the U.S. when I was 6 years old.
