StickItMedia Exclusive Interview

Jacoby Rubin was four years old when Kelly and Mike Rubin came to the realization that gymnastics would be a good activity for their son to run and jump around in a supervised venue, rather than running around and jumping on anything and everything in the house.

Jacoby would alarm many people at the local park when he would climb to the top beam of the swing set and work his way to the other side. Back and forth he would go, and people would stare at his parents, scared for his life. Jacoby’s mom, Kelly, would always say, “don’t worry, he’ll be fine!” At age seven, Kelly and Mike discovered he liked to scale the walls in their home.

When Jacoby was ten, he broke his nose at the gym, and ended up requiring surgery. When Kelly was summoned to the gym, she remembers thinking that she didn’t think it was possible for a nose to be in such a different position on his face. As Jacoby’s career progressed, he suffered other injuries. Kelly’s sage advice to Jacoby as these injuries occurred helped build Jacoby’s strong character and dedication to the sport. She has always told him that “things do happen for a reason, and to always look at the brighter side of the situation.”

Once again, Jacoby’s character is being tested, as he underwent shoulder surgery two months ago. This will keep him out of competition for another four months, but it certainly won’t keep him out of the gym.

A member of the Junior National Team, Jacoby trains at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics (Buffalo Grove, IL) under coaches Leo Krivitsky and Kelly Crumley. Among the many highlights of Jacoby’s career were his 5th place all-around finish (level 10/age 14-15) at the 2008 J.O. Nationals and capturing 4th place in the all-around at the 2008 VISA Championships.

StickItMedia had the recent pleasure of interviewing Jacoby Rubin:

SiM: How did you get started in gymnastics?

Jacoby: Well, when I was really little, I used to jump from my Mom’s dresser to the bed. Once I started jumping from the bed back to the dresser, that’s when she put me in gymnastics.

SiM: What have been your major obstacles and challenges to staying highly competitive?

Jacoby: I have had many obstacles to deal with and I am dealing with a very large one right now! I had surgery on my shoulder about two months ago, and have a six-month recovery. I am doing therapy and just keeping up my stomach, leg strength and flexibility. Also, I have had other injuries to overcome. I’ve had a dislocated shoulder, fractured wrist and a back problem that kept me out for almost an entire season. I now have to wear a back brace to sleep. But out of every injury, there is something gained. What I like to believe is… “obstacles are only those frightful thoughts you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” I like to follow this quote, and I just stay positive and keep my eyes on my goals.

SiM: What inspires you to compete?

Jacoby: I think it is the love, thrill, and adrenaline of gymnastics that inspires me to compete. But also, all the meets I compete in are just stepping stones to get to the biggest competition of them all: the Olympics!

SiM: What are your hardest events?

Jacoby: Floor is usually the hardest for me to do well. I still need to work on tumbling techniques to really get the difficulty on floor that I need.

SiM: What new skills would you like to master during the 2009 season?

Jacoby: I just need to get healthy first, then I will think about all that I need to master.

SiM: Being that you are a former Future Stars National Champion, what is your honest assessment of the Future Stars program?

Jacoby: I think that the Future Stars program is a great thing. It helps with the basics of gymnastics, which most realize is the real key to moving on to better and more difficult gymnastics.

SiM: What are your academic and gymnastics goals for the remainder of your club career?

Jacoby: My goal for academics is to get my grades up so I can get into a good school for gymnastics. Lately I have really liked Ohio State and Illinois, but there is always Michigan and others. I want to get healthy so I can be successful in my junior and senior years at club gymnastics. Those are the most critical years for college recruiting.

SiM: Who is your role model?

Jacoby: Of course, Paul Hamm is one of my role models, because I aspire to do what he has done! Actually, I just met him and didn’t even know what to say to him. I was too flabbergasted and excited to meet him. But any gymnast who performs a skill better than I can really inspires me to do it as well as they do!

SiM: What do you like to do other than gymnastics?

Jacoby: Other than gymnastics, I love hanging out with my friends, watching movies, listening to music, and I always enjoy a fun game of bowling.

SiM: What is your favorite thing about walking into the gym each day?

Jacoby: I always like seeing the guys I have become very close to at the the gym. It is like a second home to me.

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