UCLA gymnast Peng Peng Lee has had a long past few years due to injury. Lee talks to us about her road to recovery, along with her future plans, including her plans for Rio! 


Image Via- UCLA Twitter

Can you walk us through your injuries you have endured prior to your successful season last year?  

In 2012, the Olympic year, I injured my knee at Nationals on a new vault. A few weeks later I found out that I tore my ACL and I was devastated. I could of competed bars still, but decided to not go for the 2012 Olympics. I was then motivated to get strong and go to UCLA. I took a medical red shirt my freshman year at UCLA to rehab my knee. When I came back my sophomore year, during preseason I was on beam and felt my knee shift again. I had another MRI on my knee and saw the doctor. The doctor told me “your ACL is not there”. My last knee surgery didn’t fix the injury and my body did not take the new ACL. I had another ACL surgery in the fall of 2013 and sat out another season. I was even more devastated this time because I knew how long and hard the recovery was. That knee surgery was successful and after my first year of competing last year I feel great and strong!
 

What was the hardest part in your recovery? Who was your biggest supporter during your long road back? 

The hardest part was going through all of the rehab and being patient with the process. Being in school really helped me through it all. All of the coaches here at UCLA were great to me and supporting me after my injuries. Miss Val especially has been a big supporter even before I came to UCLA. She kept me focused and on track to come back. My parents also have been there for me, even if they are not in the country. My mom was able to be with me for my surgeries, so that was great! My friends were also great as they came to visit me and helped me get through my thoughts. I tried to stay positive throughout and not dwell on the injury and what happened.

 

Due to injury you missed out on the 2012 London Olympics, do you have any goals to try again for the Olympics for Team Canada? 

I am training for Rio now! All of my coaches are on board to help me, which is great! I have a game plan and I am working on some new routines now. I will be at UCLA training all summer and hope to compete some elite skills and routines next season.

 

When will your first competition be for Team Canada?

I am not sure when my first competition will be yet. I have talked with the Canadian National Team about my plans to come back. However, I still need to work out the details with the Canadian Coaches.

 

What went into your decision to choose UCLA and come to the United States to compete college gymnastics? 

Growing up I didn’t want to compete college gymnastics at all. But my teammate from Canada, Elyse Hopfner Hibbs came to UCLA and told me how fun it was. I decided to come to the States to visit and I fell in love with the program and the coaches. My parents also loved the school too. I wanted a great school as well as a great athletics program, and I got that in UCLA. I did not want to miss the opportunity so I committed to UCLA!  

 

You had a long road back from injury, what was it like getting back into competition this year for UCLA? 

Honestly I felt like I never had a break from competition because I was so busy with rehab. I was extremely nervous for my first bar routine. The coaches really helped me prepare for the nerves and that paid off. After my first routine I really wasn’t nervous anymore. I was just so excited to finally get a chance to put on the leo and represent UCLA and compete for the fans. I enjoyed last season so much and finally being able to compete with my teammates.

 

Do you feel you are back to full strength? Are there any skills you are still looking to get back into your routines? 

This summer I plan to stay in L.A. and work to get all of my skills and combinations back. I also need to keep up with my rehab this summer. I am not back to 100% gymnastics shape yet. I do feel healthy and strong though! 

Peng-Peng Lee shares on Instagram some new combinations she is training:

 

#ontheroadagain 🙊

A video posted by Peng-Peng Lee (@pengpengclee) on May 8, 2015 at 12:00pm PDT

 

Are you hoping to compete in the all-around next season for UCLA? 

Yes! I would love to get into the floor lineup and compete all-around. I would like to train and compete a double layout, full out. I am just training basics right now and getting my timing back in my tumbling.
 

Anything else you would like us to know about you? 

I have learned to have and keep a positive attitude throughout my comeback and injuries. I have also become more understanding of what my body can and can’t do. I need to remember to trust my knee 100% and that I am healthy now. My coaches have done a really good job helping me get my knee injury out of my head.  I have learned a lot from being on the sidelines for two seasons and learned to be a good teammate even though I was not competing. I am already excited for next year and I am very motivated and excited to aim for Rio! 


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