StickItMedia Exclusive Interview: Nick Spiro
Posted on 28 June 2010 by admin
New Hope Gymnastics in Fountain Valley, CA has produced many of the top men’s collegiate gymnasts, including current standouts Bryan Del Castillo (Cal) and Yoshi Mori (Illinois). Head Coach Guonian Wu has several more in the pipeline, with Nick Spiro leading the way. Spiro is a current member of the Junior National Team and is a rising star who recently won the All-Around title (84.10) against a very tough field at the Region 1 championships. Here are some of Spiro’s major accomplishments:
• 2008 JO Nationals (Level 9) – 17th AA, 6th SR, 6th PB
• 2009 JO Nationals (Level 9) – 11th AA, 2nd SR
• 2010 JO Nationals (Level 10 age 14-15) – 12th AA, 2nd SR, 5th VT
Spiro’s 12th place AA finish at the recent 2010 JO Nationals earned an automatic qualification to the 2010 VISA U.S. Championships in August. As you can see, Spiro is very strong on rings, and is also becoming a force on vault. He will be a sure-fire All-Around contender at VISAs and is widely favored to keep his spot on the Junior National Team.
Spiro started gymnastics at age 4 and began competitive gymnastics when he was 6. According to his mother, Patsy, he loved swinging on the rings on the backyard swing set when he was 3. She said, "I find it ironic now that he’s been 2nd on rings at Nationals the past two years. He was so determined to learn the skills and routines, and he always loved being with his teammates. The gym was his favorite place to be even when he was young."
When Spiro was in 3rd grade, he and older brother Jonathan (an impressive 3-time JO Nationals qualifier) were invited to help out with Peter Vidmar’s demonstration at their elementary school. After showing all the kids his Olympic medals, telling motivational stories and demonstrating his legendary prowess on the pommel horse, Vidmar invited Nick and Jonathan up to the stage to show off what they could do. Nick and Jonathan did handstands, circles on the mushroom, and scissors on the pommel horse, while all the kids shouted out the number of repetitions. Vidmar then invited up a random boy who thought he could do it too, which demonstrated to the kids that it wasn’t that easy!
Vidmar’s motivational genius really launched the young Spiro brothers into serious gymnastics mode. He boosted their confidence by starting to invite Nick and Jonathan to participate in other demonstration events to help promote the sport. Patsy attributes the closeness of her two sons to their gymnastics. "I think they have a really special relationship because of it. People have told me they find it amazing how one always seems to know where the other is in the gym, and they always take time to cheer each other on during practice. They know they can always count on each other."
StickItMedia recently had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Spiro:
SiM: How did you get your start in gymnastics?
Spiro: I got involved with gymnastics because my dad is a former gymnast and so was his dad. Gymnastics has run in our family for years and I wanted to keep it going, and I did. Also, when I was in preschool I went on the Tumble-Tot Express and loved it. My parents told me there was nothing I loved more than flipping around and improving.
SiM: What have been your biggest challenges and obstacles to remaining highly competitive?
Spiro: My biggest challenge, of course, is fighting through pain and injuries. For two years I had terrible Osgood Schlatter’s in both of my knees. With my knees injured, I forced myself to do basics and light conditioning instead of floor and vault. Taking time off is my worst nightmare. When I walk into the gym, I am there to train and become more confident and to perfect my skills and routines. I was only 12 years old, but while I was injured I learned that gymnastics takes a lot of patience. It took me months to understand that gymnastics is about being patient. Once I understood that, I was more determined than ever to become a great gymnast.
SiM: What have been your highlights so far competing in Region 1?
Spiro: My biggest highlight competing as a Region 1 athlete was last year at JO Nationals when our level 9 regional team took first place by almost 15 points. That was a very memorable day. Region 1 had one goal and we all did our jobs. We had a few mistakes but we didn’t let them affect us. It was one of my favorite competitions because our regional team was a group of 6 good friends who wanted to win as a team. This was also the year that all 3 of our Region 1 teams won 1st place at Nationals. It was great to be a part of that. Another accomplishment was this year in San Diego when I won the Regional all around title for level 10 (14-15). My first two events started off a little shaky but with the help of my teammates and coach I pulled myself together and learned that gymnastics is a fun sport.
SiM: What has it been like training alongside many great gymnasts at New Hope, including your talented older brother?
Spiro: Training at New Hope is amazing. My coach has coached many great gymnasts and wants the best for all of his athletes. My teammates are my best friends. Not very many of my friends understand a gymnast’s life besides my teammates. I love training with the team because each and every one of us is talented in a different way. My brother is my favorite teammate. He is very supportive of my gymnastics and we encourage each other to become better gymnasts every day. A memory I will never forget is when both of us made top 3 on rings at Event Finals this year at JO Nationals in Tennessee.
SiM: What are your goals for the remainder of your club career?
Spiro: My main goal before I graduate from high school is to win the all around title at JO Nationals. Being on the national team has taught me a lot and has definitely expanded my goals. My goal for this year is to win the rings title at the VISA championships and continue my training as a national team member.
SiM: What are your long term academic goals?
Spiro: My long term academic goal is to get a gymnastics scholarship and attend a great college while competing. I’d like to study to eventually do something in the field of communications.
SiM: What are your hardest events and why?
Spiro: My hardest event is P-bars. It is my most difficult event because in my opinion it takes the most practice and the most perfection. That is why p-bars is also my favorite event.
SiM: Who are your role models and why?
Spiro: As a young gymnast, I looked up to Paul Hamm as a hero. When I watched his gymnastics, I could see the determination and hard work he put into his career. Hamm made everything look so easy and fun. For many years, I was always impressed with his gymnastics. As for now, my role model would have to be Yoshi Mori. He is one of my best and most trustful friends and is also an eye-catching athlete. Yoshi is a great person to look up to. He graduated from high school and is now competing for the University of Illinois and is a big contributor to their team.
SiM: What are your proudest gymnastics achievements?
Spiro: Making the junior national team. This accomplishment led me to a new life. I look back and wish I had worked harder. Throughout my life, I try not to have regrets but there are things I do wish I did with more excellence, and training was one of them. When I qualified, I was shocked and was ready for a change. Going to the Olympic Training Center is a huge part of my life. My favorite part about OTC is the gym. It is a very special place to me because it is not a gym you get to train in every day. It is a privilege and a reward for the time and training we put into the sport.
SiM: What are your proudest academic achievements?
Spiro: This past year, I have learned to focus on keeping my grades as high as possible, as well as my gymnastics performance. My cumulative G.P.A. from freshman to sophomore year improved an entire point higher. I worked hard and learned many different ways to challenge myself and to improve my academics.
SiM: What has been the best advice you’ve ever received, and what advice do you give your younger teammates?
Spiro: My coach, Guonian, is always giving me great tips and pointers but my favorite piece of advice anyone has ever gave me is to let it go and stay happy. Figuring out skills can be frustrating but handling them shows if you are mature or not. Just like anything else, there will be times when you get frustrated. For example, if I get frustrated on a skill, it is easy to run away from it and try something else. Instead, I try something different every time I try the skill again and eventually I learn a new way to improve it. It is a different mindset than just trying to make the skill.
The younger boys at New Hope are well respected. I love seeing kids determined at such a young age so I do my best to throw out tips and corrections that helped me when I was younger. I am always telling the younger boys to be aggressive and to have a good attitude. Falling off an event can be tragic for younger levels and I remind them that they are not the only ones with mistakes. A story I always tell the younger ones is when Paul Hamm fell on vault at the Olympic Games but managed to win the gold. That shows hard work and a fighting attitude. My advice that I give my younger teammates all comes from self experiences. I always want the best for them.
SiM: What is your favorite thing about walking into the gym every day?
Spiro: My favorite thing is knowing that today I am going to improve at something. Isn’t that the point of training every day? I love the feeling I get when I improve a routine or a new skill. It makes me feel more confident, mature, and gives me more drive to work harder on a different skill. Also, when I walk into the gym, I am a whole different person. I am focused on nothing but gymnastics and improving. When I am in the gym, I have absolutely no distractions.
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