JPAC Senior Nasha Manitkul-Davis is midway through her last season as a JO Athlete! Nasha, who started gymnastics at 7 years old has seen success and disappointment in her gymnastics career, having sustained a pretty series elbow injury requiring surgery. Nasha being strong and determined returned from injury to become a Level 9 Eastern NationalBar Champion. As a Level 10 athlete Nasha has competed at JO Nationals and accomplished her dream of becoming a collegiate gymnast, Nasha will join the Kent State Gymnastics Team in the fall on full scholarship. Let’s get to know Nasha a little better as she wraps up her gymnastics career as a Region 5 gymnast.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was brought to an open gym by one of my really good friends at seven years old and they had asked if I wanted to do classes, soon after I started my gymnastics career in level 2.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is floor because I love the flying feeling and getting to show off my routine at competitions.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is how disciplined it makes you because as a gymnast you take on many responsibilities inside and outside of the gym. It makes you mentally stronger as the years pass on and overall a better person.

What college do you plan on attending? I plan on attending Kent State University next year.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals because you make so many new friends and teammates and even though we might have just met a few weeks prior, when we step onto the floor everyone cheers together as if we’ve known each other for forever. The team atmosphere is amazing!

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is signing my NLI to Kent State. It’s been my dream to compete as a collegiate gymnast.

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

Dream skill? My dream skill is a standing arabian on beam.

Who do you admire most in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Shawn Johnson the most because she always seems to carry a positive attitude even when she’s not having the best day and we happen to share the same birthday.

What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still have your very first leo?  My all-time favorite leotard is our competition leo from 2 years ago. It
was black and blue with 3/4 length mesh sleeves and rhinestones all over. I keep it hanging in my closet to look at every now and then. I do not have my first leo anymore.

What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is Remember the Titans.

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I don’t really have a go to playlist or song before meets, they are usually songs that I can dance to, to get the blood flowing and my body pumped up.

What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up I either want to be a physical therapist or biomedical engineer, I still can’t decide.

Where do you go to High School? I go to Whiteland Community High School in Whiteland, Indiana.

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

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics, I like to sleep or hang out with my friends.

Favorite gymnastics moment? My favorite gymnastics moment was winning uneven bars at Eastern Nationals after coming back from an elbow surgery.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast I would play soccer because I played it for several years before getting involved in gymnastics.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? If I could live anywhere, I would live in London, England because the buildings and buses give off a cozy feeling, the scenery is all around beautiful, and I love British accents.

If you could have a lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would have lunch with my sister because she always knows how to put a smile on my face even when I’ve had the worst day. She’s just a great person to be with.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….. A few years ago I was diagnosed with a textbook case of narcolepsy, but it doesn’t interfere with my gymnastics training.

Check out Nasha’s beam routine from the 2017 JO Nationals