Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Ryann Segall, New Trier gymnastics

Ryann Segall is a senior with the Trevians who recently took second in the uneven bars as New Trier’s Holiday Invite.

1. Do you have any preroutine rituals?

I think the biggest thing is I listen to my favorite songs, and before each routine I talk to myself for 10 seconds before I get on the equipment and before I salute the judges. I normally just tell myself everything is going to be OK and I know what I’m doing.

2. Do you have plans for next year?

I am going to college, but I’m not exactly sure where yet. I’m in the middle of the application process. I applied to a school in almost every region. I would be happy to go anywhere I applied.

3. What is your favorite event?

My favorite is definitely bars. I got injured my sophomore year with stress fractures in my shins, which prevented me from dong other events. I spent a lot of time on bars and ever since it’s been one of my favorites.

4. How long have you been in gymnastics?

I started gymnsatics when I was 3 and I did it for fun, and then I started competing when I was 8 years old.

5. What is your favorite thing about the sport?

I love how it’s an outlet away from everything else. Going there is something that can distract me from other things, and I love all my friends I’ve made on this team and on my club (American Academy Club), and all my coaches too.

6. What is your favorite thing to do outside the gym?

I love hanging out with my friends and family. My family loves to play games, so that’s a thing I like doing with them. My favorite family game is Yahtzee. With my friends, just hanging out with them.

7. What is something most people don’t realize about gymnastics?

Honestly, with the whole thing, one of the biggest things is overcoming mental blocks and mental issues with your skills. That is hard for people to understand. And the whole sport itself is so different than anything else. It’s cool that’s its unique to the gymnastics community.

8. If you are in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

Definitely candy — my favorite candy is Airheads Extreme Bites — and maybe some gum.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

A lot of people don’t know that I have a twin brother (Karsten). We actually do a lot of things together. We’re in the same friends group. We are different and have different things we like, but we get along really well, which is super nice.

10. What can this team accomplish this season?

I think our biggest goal is to gain some consistency. Halfway through the year, we’re really getting into the flow of things. It’s just about being consistent in all of our meets. I’m just really hoping everyone uses winter break to get new skills and get comfortable with what they are doing. And later on, our goal is to go far and hopefully make it to state.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.