To follow up on the level 10 season and the new Junior Olympic national champions, we're highlighting the top all-arounders over the next few weeks.

In this edition, we caught up with Senior F champion,

MADDIE KARR.

Karr, of Twin City Twisters in Minnesota, had the weekend's highest all-around score: a huge 39.025. In the weeks leading up to the competition, Karr had several AP tests as well as a violin recital, but continued to train hard and felt very confident headed into the meet.

I knew that all the training leading up to this meet was perfectly timed and I was just ready to end my J.O. career with a bang.

FloGymnastics: Take me through the meet, starting with your first event.
Maddie Karr: I started the meet with beam. That is my favorite rotation because you get beam over with right away. Once I got through my beam routine and dismounted, I knew it was game on. 

I headed to floor and just enjoyed every second of competing. After floor, I was feeling very confident going into vault.

My teammates were actually lined up down the vault strip as they helped cheer me on. That's the best feeling—knowing all your teammates are there supporting you and believing in you. They have been with me through it all and know all the sacrifices that we have all made. I think they wanted a national title as much as I did, and it was just a great feeling having my own little cheering section.

I nailed my first vault and immediately everyone was cheering. I thought to myself that as long as I stay on the bar, this might actually happen.

I headed to bars, and my warm up was very rough. I kept casting over. I was last in the bar lineup and reminded myself how many bar routines I’ve made. ‘Thousands,' I told myself. I then mounted the bar, did a good routine, and stuck the dismount. That was the best way I could've ended my J.O. career. 

What did it feel like when they called your name as national champion?
It felt amazing. At the moment, it didn’t even feel real. It took a couple days for it to kick in. 



What is the best part about becoming a national champion?
The best part for me, is getting my name on the wall in the gym. At TCT, we have a list on the wall, and every time I’ve walked into the gym, I look at those names and use that for motivation on the hard days. Now, my name will be up there and I am honored and excited that I can help motivate the next generation of gymnasts. 



From May until September, Karr will prepare to join the University of Denver Pioneers. She's most excited for the team aspect of college gymnastics and already knows several of her future teammates.

I think we will be a team to watch out for in the future.

Rapid-fire questions:

Favorite healthy food?
Sushi

Favorite junk food?
Ice cream

Favorite book?
Harry Potter

Can you play any musical instruments?
I play the violin. I have played the past seven years.

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Leggings and a t-shirt. 

What is your favorite event and why?
I love bars because of the endless possibilities and connections. Once you think you’ve mastered a skill, there's always a new way you can add or manipulate it to make it better.


Related:
Results: Level 10 J.O. Nationals
Final 2016 Level 10 Rankings
These NCAA Teams Won J.O. Nationals