Q-and-A with Athanasia Pappas, Lockport gymnastics
February 10, 2013 8:44PM
Athanasia Pappas, of Lockport. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun Times Media
high school
CUBE
Updated: March 12, 2013 6:12AM
The junior gymnast came off offseason ACL surgery and competed until another leg injury popped up before the start of the postseason.
Injuries are a part of sports, but how tough has the last year or so been?
I try not to show it, but this past year has been very frustrating. Knowing what you’re capable of but having to hold back because of an injury is not a good feeling.
For some events you had to wear a brace on your leg. How awkward was that?
Oh, extremely awkward.
And did you get used to it?
On the floor definitely was the easiest. On vault, I sometimes still whack my other knee on it running down the runway. On bars, sometimes it gets stuck on the bar; other times it’s just extra weight. On the beam, I just have to do without it.
How long do you think you could survive without texting?
If nobody else had a phone or texting I think I would be able to go forever without it. I sometimes wish our generation didn’t have all this new technology.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am very competitive, but if I don’t come out on top I don’t sweat it. I just keep moving forward.
If you could have lunch with any three people who would they be?
Definitely Jim Carrey because he is the funniest actor alive. Jordyn Wieber because she is my gymnastics idol. And Oprah because she is the most successful woman ever and maybe she could give me some pointers.
If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be?
Probably “Mean Girls.”
Who should play you?
Lindsey Lohan.
As told to Jeff Vorva
