12 USA GymnASticS MAY • JUNE 2009

Mattie Medals at World Cup

Mattie laRsonBirth Date: 05/20/1992hometown: los angeles, CaBegan Gymnastics in: 1995 how did you get involved?: i saw my older sister doing gymnastics and i wanted to do it, too. Favorite thing about Gymnastics: i love being able to do things that not many people get a chance to do. Grade: 11th (Fall ‘08) Favorite school subject: Film analysis

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Sixteen-year-old Mattie Larson competed for

the USA at the World Cup in Montreal, where

she won two gold medals on balance beam

and floor exercise. Larson trains at All Olympia

in Los Angeles, Calif., and is coached by Galina Marinova

and Artur Akopyan. Larson took seventh all-around at the

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and was a member of the

2008 Olympic Team Training Squad.

USA Gymnastics caught up with Mattie to ask her a few questions!

USA Gymnastics: How did it feel to win two gold medals at a World Cup? Mattie: This is my first time winning medals that have the word “World” in the title, so it felt so amazing to actually win two!

USA Gymnastics: What is next for you?Mattie: Right now I’m concentrating on upgrading my routines and fixing small details here and there. I’m just going to keep training and see what happens!

USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite event and skill?Mattie: When I go through a rough training period, my favorite event is the one that gives me the least trouble. But, for the most part, I would say floor. My favorite skill is a “shaposhnikova” on bars. It used to be my least favorite when I was learning it because I was terrified of it, but when I do it right, it’s the closest I feel to flying.

USA Gymnastics: What are your goals for the future in gymnastics?Mattie: My goal for this year is to be a World Championship team member and, as for the long term future, to make the 2012 Olympic Team.

USA Gymnastics: Tell me about school.Mattie: I go to high school two days a week and I do school work at home on the other days. I’ve tried going to school full time and, being home schooled full time and I finally found a happy middle. Some semesters I take classes at a community college as well.USA Gymnastics: Can you walk me through a typical day?

Mattie: I get up at 7:30 a.m. and school starts at 9:00 a.m. I’m at school for about three hours and then gymnastics practice starts at 1:00 p.m. I train until about 8:00 p.m. with an hour break. I get home, do homework and go to sleep.

USA Gymnastics: What do you like to do when you are not in the gym?Mattie: I love to hang out with my older sister who goes to the University of Southern California, which is close enough to see her when I want to. She is without a doubt the coolest person I know.

USA Gymnastics: Do you have your driver’s license? Mattie: I have my permit. I really want to get my license before my 17th birthday, which is at the end of May.

USA Gymnastics: Tell us about your parents’ background in acting?Mattie: My parents USED to act! I wish they would start back up again but they say they will eventually! They just really wanted to raise my sister and me the right way, not through show business. My mom (Gail) was in Ghost and some other movies and my dad (Eric) did some commercials and some guest roles on TV shows back in the day.

Both of my parents decided to become actors when they were young adults. That’s actually how they met, in acting class. My sister decided sort of recently that she wanted to be an actress. She was on the first season of the show Baldwin Hills on BET and she recently auditioned for the latest Twilight movie, New Moon.

USA Gymnastics: Is your dad involved in some way with gymnastics now?Mattie: My dad creates floor music for gymnasts. He is a genius when it comes to searching for the right music. He also does the music for UCLA’s gymnastics team.

USA Gymnastics: Do you have an interest in becoming an actress? Mattie: I have wanted to be an actress since I knew what the word meant. I didn’t want to tell my parents when I was younger because I knew they would want me to wait until I was older. When I eventually told them, they said they knew this day would come eventually!

2009 WORLD CUP

USA GymnASticS MAY • JUNE 2009 13

Mattie Medals at World Cup

2009 WORLD CUP

Samantha Shapiro Shines at World Cup Fifteen-year-old Samantha Shapiro of All Olympia Gymnastics Center in Los Angeles won the gold medal on uneven bars at the World Cup. Shapiro, who is coached by Galina Marinova and Artur Akopyan, is the 2008 junior national champion in both bars and beam and finished second all-around at the Visa Championships. She also won bars and beam at the 2008 PAGU Individual Event Championships in Argentina.

We caught up with Shapiro and asked about her experience at the

competition.

USA Gymnastics: How did it feel to win the gold medal on bars at a World Cup? Samantha: It is a wonderful feeling to be able to compete for the U.S. It is an indescribable feeling for me to stand on the podium of an international meet as a representative of my country. I feel honored and privileged to represent the U.S.

USA Gymnastics: Tell me about your gold medal bar routine?Samantha: I injured my foot on the first day of training. I thought about each skill of the routine, one at a time, and then when it came time for the dismount, I told myself to go for it and worry about my foot later.

USA Gymnastics: What was the best part of the trip? Samantha: The best part was being in Montreal with both of my club teammates, Hallie (Mossett) and Mattie (Larson). It was great that we were all able to have that experience together.

USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite event? Samantha: I don’t have a favorite event. I love them all for different reasons.

USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite skill? Samantha: I really enjoy working on new release moves on bars.

USA Gymnastics: What are your goals for the future? Samantha: My immediate future goals are to get healthy and continue working on upgrading my routines. I hope to do well at Visa Championships this summer. My ultimate goal is to compete for the U.S. in world competitions and the 2012 Olympic Games. That would be a dream come true.

USA Gymnastics: What do you like to do when you are not in the gym?Samantha: I love to dance, hang out with friends and family, go to Dodger games, listen to music, spend time at the beach, and go to the movies.

USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite food?Samantha: Bananas!

USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite TV show?Samantha: So You Think You Can Dance and Friends.

USA Gymnastics: What has been your favorite vacation? Samantha: Catalina Island for the 4th of July. Catalina is a little island just off the coast of Southern California.

Birth Date: 05/18/1993Club: all olympia (aoGC) Coaches: Galina Marinova, artur akopyanhometown: los angeles, Ca Began Gymnastics in: 1996 how did you get involved?: i became in-volved in gymnastics through a preschool program when i was three years old. Favorite thing about Gymnastics: the feeling I have flying through the air. school: Windward school Favorite school subject: math

14 USA GymnASticS MAY • JUNE 2009

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