Our next 20 Questions Athlete Qualified to her 1st JO National Championships in 2019 after narrowly missing a spot the previous year. Lauren Holt of GTC-Rochester in Michigan. In 2019 Lauren finished 4th in the All-Around and 2nd in the Uneven Bars to earn a spot on the 2019 Dream Team in a pretty tough age group. What I love most about Lauren is her personality and love for what she is doing! Every time she is on the competition floor she has a huge smile on her face, she seems to be always enjoying and living in the moment. Floor is my favorite event to watch Lauren on, her routine is fun, energetic and spunky! You cannot help but smile while watching her. Lauren, who is entering her sophomore year of high school, is wrapping up her summer training and getting ready to start her journey towards another JO National Championships. Let’s get to know Lauren a little bit better as she prepares for the upcoming season.

How did you get into the Sport of Gymnastics? How old were you? I got into gymnastics when I scaled a tall table at the doctor’s office.  The doctor told my mom to enroll me in a gymnastics class and I was at my first class within a week.  I started gymnastics at GTC when I was four and a half years old.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is the uneven bars because I love to swing and fly through the air.

Favorite skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is an aerial on beam while my favorite skill to compete is my jaeger on bars.

Dream Skill? My dream skill is an onodi on beam.  It is a beautiful skill that seems like it would be fun to compete!

What is your favorite part of Gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is working really hard on a skill and finally being able to compete it.  It feels incredible to accomplish a goal that you have been working towards for months or even years.

What college are you planning on attending and why? I have not decided which college I am going to attend.  

What is your favorite meet to compete at? why? My favorite meet to compete at is Motown Madness, our home meet. The atmosphere is so positive and the arena is filled with all of my family and friends.  It is a really fun meet that I enjoy experiencing every year. 

What is your biggest accomplishment in the Sport of Gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is being able to represent Region 5 at JO Nationals this year.  I placed 7th on floor and had a blast with my teammates.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Series or Feature? My favorite Region 5 series is the Region 5 “OMG” Blooper Moments. 

What is our go-to playlist or song before a meet? Before a meet, I love to jam out with my mom to 80s music and Kelly Clarkson.

What are 3 thing you cannot live without? Three things I couldn’t live without are my family, snacks, and gymnastics.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why? If I were an animal I would be a monkey because I love to swing and they are my second favorite animal (after ducks.)

What are the 5 Most Important or Must Have items in your gym bag? The five most important items in my gym bag are my grips, wrist guards, tape, snacks, and a thousand hair ties.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Yes, before every meet my mom asks me, “Who are you?” and I have to say, “Lauren Elizabeth Holt.”  Then she tells me that I just have to be Lauren, no one else.  I also have to do a specific drill before a jaeger.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics, I love to play football and basketball with my brothers.  I also love to read and spend time at my cottage in the lake.

Most embarrassing meet or Gymnastics moment? When I was ten years old, I fell during my beam routine and had to stop competing.  I ended up with a 1.0 but everyone in the crowd thought that it was a 10.0. The whole crowd went crazy and it was super embarrassing!

If you were not a Gymnast what sport would you try and why? If I wasn’t a gymnast, I would play soccer, basketball, and volleyball. I think diving would also be fun.

What athletes (any sport) do you respect the most? why? I respect all of the athletes that battle back from injury and never give up.  It is incredibly motivational to see them come back stronger than ever.

What is something you learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you after you are finished with the sport? One important skill I have learned from gymnastics is time management.  I have to balance practicing every day and finishing homework.  Another skill I have acquired from gymnastics is learning how to overcome obstacles and persevere.  I have had to overcome many setbacks throughout my career and they have helped me become who I am today.  Knowing how to battle through the obstacles will help me accomplish my goals throughout the rest of my life.

 What is your most memorable JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable gymnastics moment was when I qualified to JO Nationals this year.  After the competition ended, there was a flurry of activity.  Over this time, I met my Nationals team and took in my surroundings.  That day was by far my most memorable gymnastics moment in my career.

What is one piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? My coach, Amanda, has given me a lot of advice over the years.  She has taught me to strive for perfection and make quality turns instead of a lot of turns.  She has also taught me to be confident in my gymnastics and to trust myself at meets.  Finally, Amanda has taught me to relax and just do what my body know to do. All of the coaches at GTC are incredible people who have given me both life and gymnastics advice.

 Bonus Questions: Tell me something interesting about yourself……. My absolute favorite color is pink, but I am a complete tomboy!