The next 2016 J.O. National Champion we are celebrating is the Junior F co-champion,

ABBY HEISKELL.

Heiskell trains at Southeastern Gymnastics and tied for the AA gold with Shaylah Scott in the Junior F division with a 38.575. She also took home the title on bars. She is committed to the University of Michigan for 2018-2019.

Heiskell began the meet on beam, which said was an inconsistent event for her this season. She looks back on hitting her beam routine as a big highlight of the competition. She got through a solid three events before ending the meet with a stellar bar set.

That was one of the most special routines in my career. I did my bar routine and stuck my dismount and I couldn’t have been happier with what I did.

FloGymnastics: What did it feel like when they called your name as National Champion?

I never in a million years thought that I would be named JO National Champion. It felt amazing knowing that all of my hard work finally paid off.

Do you have particular upgrades you’re excited to learn this summer?

I really hope that I can master my Yurchenko double full. I feel like that would be such a cool skill to compete.

What are you looking forward to most about next year?

I’m looking forward to being a leader of my team next year. We have eight seniors leaving for college this summer, and there are no seniors in our gym next year so, I will be the oldest. I have big shoes to fill, but I think that I will make a good leader and hope that I can encourage my younger teammates.

Anything else you would like us to know about your season or future plans?

Although this is cliché, I want everyone to know that hard work does pay off. This season has not been easy by any means, but through hard work and dedication to this sport, I ended up making my dream a reality.

Rapid fire questions:

If you had to switch to a different sport right now, which would you choose?
Horseback riding

Which athlete do you most respect and why?
I respect all of the older girls in my gym, because I know that they have worked extremely hard to get where they are now

Favorite movie?
Toy Story

Favorite band?
The Beatles

Name one person who has had a huge impact on your involvement in gymnastics and how that person is connected to you.
Cailee Hills has impacted me in more ways than I think she knows. I’ve never seen someone with so much passion for the sport of gymnastics. She inspires me to do the very best that I can.


Related:
We are the Champions: Shaylah Scott
We are the Champions: Rachael Lukacs
We are the Champions: Rachael Flam
We are the Champions: Emma Marchese
We are the Champions: Kyla Bryant
We are the Champions: Taylor Houchin
We are the Champions: Maddie Karr
These NCAA Teams Had the Best Showing at 2016 J.O. Nationals
Top Routines on Each Event at J.O. Nationals
Results: Level 10 J.O. Nationals