Gymnastics Spotlight: Krista Jasper
March 4, 2010 | Baseball
March 4, 2010
Junior Krista Jasper competed in every event for the first time in her collegiate career at the George Washington Invitational where she placed third in all-around and third on floor exercise. The Birchrunville, Pa., native has also placed fourth on uneven bars three times this season. Jasper has fought an ankle injury this season, but she competes with grace and determination every day in practice and in competition.
Jasper and the Tar Heels travel to Gainesville, Fla., on Friday for a 7 p.m. meet against No. 4 Florida and Ball State.
Head Coach Derek Galvin on Jasper: Krista has worked very hard and does so all the time, but she had a bone chip removed from her ankle at the end of last year and they ran into some complications in the recovery phase. Then she sprained her ankle against William & Mary and has battled back from that. Krista is someone who is constant in her pursuit of excellence in gymnastics and an extremely focused person in practice. She's continually pushing herself and has very high expectations of the level she should be performing. She just keeps at it and will not relent. When she's on floor exercise and beam there is an aesthetic quality to what she does. She has very nice lines and she is a very expressive performer. We've begun training her full in, her full twisting double back, for floor again on a soft surface. It's going to depend on how her ankle and legs hold up, but that is one of the things we're working on. The only question is how will her body respond. There is absolutely no doubt about her desire and the intensity in her effort to achieve those skills. What Krista gives us is a very interesting combination of a grace and elegance and then a really tenacious athletic person. She's an athlete and if she were involved in a contact sport, she'd be one of those people you wouldn't want to go up against. She has that tenacity and toughness, but then there is also the very graceful, aesthetically captivating side that she has.
TarHeelBlue.com: What were some of the highlights of the team's trip to Stanford?
Krista Jasper: Our team's beam performance. Starting on beam is definitely the most nerve-racking, but we hit six of six and they were amazing routines. We were all very proud of our team performance on that event. Also, the sight-seeing on Saturday before the meet was an adventure. We eventually made it to the Golden Gate Bridge, which was an amazing view, but somehow we managed to get lost when we were staring straight at it the whole time!
THB.com:What has been the best moment of the 2010 season for you thus far?
KJ: Our first meet of the season at George Washington. Because of injuries, I have not been able to compete in all four events until that meet and I hit four of four. It was really exciting to finally compete all-around, and overall it was a great atmosphere to compete in.
THB.com: What was it like competing in Carmichael for the first time?
KJ: It was a great experience to finally represent my college on my own turf and be surrounded by so many Tar Heel fans. My friends are always commenting on how much time we put in, so this was a chance to show them why.
THB.com: What event or skill have you been focusing on this season?
KJ: Uneven parallel bars. Due to my ankle injury I have not been able to train the other three events very consistently, so I have been putting most of my focus on my bar routine; trying to execute my form.
THB.com: The Blue & Pink meet was a great way to show the Carolina and Chapel Hill community how passionate the team is about community service. What is your favorite community service project the team has done in the past?
KJ: I love Habitat for Humanity projects because we do not just donate our money to a cause, but instead we donate our time, hard work and commitment to benefit the community. Each project I learn something new and by the end of the day I get to see how a pile of wood and nails turned into the framework for a house. They are always a lot of fun and a great team bonding experience.
THB.com: How has the increased focus on conditioning impacted the team this season?
KJ: We felt a lot more prepared when the competition season started, especially in our floor routines. We can tell that our endurance is a lot stronger and our overall strength with tumbling difficulty has improved since the beginning of pre-season training.
THB.com: How have you grown as a gymnast during your time at Carolina?
KJ: College gymnastics is not about quantity but quality, and it took me a while to learn that concept. I am used to pushing myself through injuries and practicing high numbers in order to improve my gymnastics, but I realized that kind of mentality was only hindering me more because my body starts to break down if I am not smart about my training. I have learned to practice more efficiently now so that I am focusing more on the quality of my gymnastics, and I have noticed a huge difference in my form.
THB.com: You've said that one of your hobbies is attending performances around campus, what have you seen recently that you really enjoyed?
KJ: In December, I went to see The Nutcracker by the Carolina Performing Arts. The Ballet was not only very entertaining, but inspiring as an athlete and artist. In order to be so precise and eloquent, these dancers endured a lot of practice and dedication, which I respect as a gymnast. At the same time, I appreciate the ballet as a piece of art that incorporates both talents of athleticism and acting. By the end of the show, I was determined to become a dancer after collegiate gymnastics.
THB.com: How does gymnastics influence your acting and how is your acting influenced by gymnastics?
KJ: Gymnastics and acting complement each other because they both require similar attributes: confidence, commitment, discipline, and enthusiasm. Many classes that I have taken for both of my majors have actually helped my vocal leadership in the gym. In return, my good work ethic in the gym has carried over into my study habits when I need to memorize and practice my monologues a thousand times!
THB.com: Who has been the most influential person in your life at Carolina?
KJ: My mom has always been one of the most influential people in my life and continues to be during my college experience here at Carolina. She has battled many obstacles in her life, but never let anything prevent her from accomplishing her goals and doing what she loves, which is running. She has been an athlete for most of her life and is still excelling in Masters Track and Field all over the world. I can always count on my mom's advice when I am struggling in gymnastics because I trust in her experience as an athlete and a mother to guide me in the right direction.
Players Mentioned
