This future MSU Spartan is one of the most talented athletes I have met, she is also one of the sweetest people in the world. She is soft spoken and quite, but her gymnastics is loud and speaks volumes! Watching her is like watching a swan, her movements are so effortless and exact. Every time she takes the floor she looks like she is loving what she does, and putting all of her heart and soul into it each time. Anne Maxim of Olympia, who is finishing up her senior year with a trip to the 2017 JO Nationals, will try and cap off an excellent JO career which includes back to back National Uneven Bar Titles and numerous state & regional titles before heading to East Lansing in the fall to join the Michigan State University Spartan Gymnastics Team. Let’s get to know Annie a little bit better as she prepares to defend her uneven bars titles in Indy in two weeks.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? My mother had me try a variety of different sports as a kid and gymnastics ended up being my favorite. Early on, it was evident that gymnastics was the most important. I was 6 when I started.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is bars because it does not slow down. From the moment your hands grasp the bar, you do not stop flowing until they release. The constant movement creates a lovely rhythm of skills.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics?I love the technicality and challenges gymnastics produces. Every skill requires precise strength and technique, yet can look very different on every gymnast who does it. Yet, once a skill is thought to have been mastered, there are always more out there to be learned or created.

What college do you plan on attending? I will be attending Michigan State University.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals. All of Region 5 comes together for this meet and create something really special. Girls from different gyms are now your teammates for the weekend. They are there cheering you on and helping move your mats. Special bonds are formed at nationals in the midst of the high energy meet. It is the closet experience to college gymnastics as you can get.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment is winning bars at nationals in 2015 and 2016.

Favorite skill to train and/or compete? My favorite skill is a tkatchev.

Dream skill? My dream skill would be to compete a double Arabian and a double layout on floor.

 Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I most admire Shannon Miller for her persistent dedication to the sport and all that she does in life.

What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still your very first leo? My favorite leotard is the red, white, and blue American flag leo from the 2012 London Olympics. I then bought the tank version of it once GK released their replica line. I do still have my first leo.

What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is Forrest Gump. It leaves me feeling inspired every time I watch it.

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I like relaxing music before meets.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a biomedical engineer.

Where do you go to High School? I go to Chippewa Valley High School.

What is your favorite color? My favorite color is black.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of the gym, I love to go boating, swim, and travel.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would peruse some of the sports that I quit for gymnastics and some I have never done, including figure skating, track, dance, softball, and volleyball.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? I would live anywhere in the U.S.

If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?  I would have lunch with my grandpa. He passed away when I was young and I would love to hear stories about his life now that I am older.

 Tell me something interesting about yourself….  I was a figure skater up until I was a level 7 gymnast.  

Check out Anne’s 1st Place Bar Routine from the 2016 JO Nationals