Legacy Elite Senior Rachel Borden has some of the most unique skills I have seen, especially her beam mount, she was the inaugural winner of the 2016 Region 5 
Yahtzee Award for the “Most Interesting Beam Mount” and it certainly is an interesting one. Not only is Rachel extremely talent in the gym, but outside the gym as well, she would like to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering! Rachel is nearing the end of her senior year and getting ready to close out her time as not only a Legacy Elite Gymnast, but a Region 5 Gymnast as well. Lets get to know Rachel a little bit better as she heads for graduation and the road to JO Nationals.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was 4 years old when I stated. My mom decided to put me into gymnastics after I climbed onto the dining room table and swung from the chandelier. She had enough of my endless energy and put me in a sport where I would get worn down and sleep when I was home.
What is your favorite event? Bars
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I love the rush of adrenalin that comes with learning a new skill and sticking a routine at a meet.
What college do you plan on attending? The University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
What is your favorite meet to compete at? State Meet
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics was learning my beam mount.
Favorite skill to train and/or compete. My favorite skill to train is my front aerial front handspring. My favorite skill to compete is my beam mount. (See Video of Rachel’s Unique Beam Routine Below)
Dream skill? Double Arabian
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire the people gymnastics creates. It brings out the best in gymnasts and teaches us lessons that we will have for the rest of our lives.
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still have your very first leo? My favorite leo is a 
green leo with a lot of different patterns all over it. It’s my favorite because it’s so comfy. I don’t have my first leo anymore, I gave it to my cousin who wants to be a gymnast someday.
What is your favorite movie? Captain America: Civil War
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? “How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Chemical Engineer
Where do you go to High School? Neuqua Valley High School
What is your favorite color? Green
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Reading and Writing
Favorite Gymnastics Moment? Sticking my first vault in a level 10 meet.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? Soccer
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?Rome
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would have lunch with Jennifer Lawrence because she is my favorite actress and seems like such a fun person.
Tell me something interesting about yourself… I love to write. I have written short stories and am currently working on my first book. I hope to eventually get something published.
Rachel’s Beam Routine from the 2017 JPAC Midwest Showdown
