Our next 20 Questions Athlete is the 2018 Level 9 Eastern National Balance Beam Champion. Kylee 
Vanderbeek of Champion USA in Holland, Michigan is one of my favorite athletes to watch on the Balance Beam and it is no surprise she took the top spot at Nationals in 2018. Kylee exudes an extreme amount of confidence while performing on the Beam, she moves along and tumbles like she is walking across the floor. Each move is sharp, exact and flows from one to the other. it is a very rare quality sometimes to see someone work the Balance Beam like Kylee does. I am extremely excited to see what this season holds for Kylee, she has a brand new floor routine and I’m sure upgrades on the other events as well. Let’s get to know Kylee a little bit better and she is putting the final touches on her routines for the upcoming season.
How did you get into gymnastics? I started doing gymnastics because watching my sister over the years made me decide I wanted to be just like her
How old were you? I was 5 years old
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is beam
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train would be a back handspring layout step out on beam
Dream Skill? My dream skill would be a double arabian on floor
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part about gymnastics is the feeling of getting a new skill that you have been trying to get for a long time, and being able to be with my teammates 24/7 
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at would definitely be our home meet because I have all my family and friends there to support me
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far would be being the eastern national beam champion
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire my sister the most in gymnastics because she is the one that had kept me going
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Insider future is watching other gymnasts videos and watching everybody’s new skills and being able to to learn more about other gymnasts in our region
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My top 3 songs that I would listen to before a meet are Happier, Rise Up, and Battle Scars
3 Things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without is my family, friends, and gymnastics
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would say a dolphin because I love swimming and I could just swim all day if I were a dolphin 
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? 5 most important things to have in my gym bag is a Leo, grips, tape, pre-wrap, and a snack
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? A pre-meet ritual that I do is always listen to music to get pumped up!
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? When I’m outside of the gym I like to spend time with my family and hangout with my friends
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Most embarrassing meet moment for sure would be when I totally froze in one of my tumbling passes at eastern nationals
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a gymnast I would do track
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect gymnasts the most because it feels like we are in the gym more than any other sport and we are a year round sport and we don’t have any breaks
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable gymnastics 
moment was being the eastern national beam champion
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most valuable piece of advice that my coach has given me is to always be the best I can be and always go out there and have fun no matter what
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. Something interesting about me is that I really enjoy hunting and fishing with my dad!
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