“She is talented, elegant, very flexible, fast (she has good legs) and she learns quickly”summarizes Ulla Koch.
The German coach had the opportunity to get a very clear idea of her qualities during recent tests taken by this gymnast who started this sport with us before moving with her family to San Francisco.
”After a first request last year (Editor's note: before the change of coach at the head of the team), Mika sent us another email, in January, to compete for Belgium. The door was open to her, as it is to all those who have a Belgian passport. We invited her to Ghent, where she came twice.”
A positive evaluation followed, reinforced by a good performance at the DTB Pokal in Stuttgart in March. And here today is Mika Webster-Longin in the same team as Olympic champion Nina Derwael for her first Euro.
I suffered from mental blocks. The pandemic allowed me to do a reset.
A trajectory that the young woman would not have dared to dream of a few years ago, when she was on the verge of quitting gymnastics.
”I had a very difficult time just before the pandemicshe explained on American television. In my previous club, I suffered from mental blocks, I was afraid to do certain things. The Covid crisis then allowed me to take a break, a sort of mental reset.”
Relocated to East Bay Gymnastics in Concord, where she “rediscovered the love of gymnastics”Mika Webster-Longin has had a string of good results in competition over the last two years.
“My performances last summer at the national championships boosted my confidence”recognizes this expressive and determined gymnast, who won a scholarship to join UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles) and the Bruins next year.
“When training with her, we immediately felt this very American positivism”welcomed Nina Derwael, who rubbed shoulders with her on the floor in Ghent and was enthusiastic about her contribution.
Mika Webster-Longin will not fail to observe her elder sister during this Euro where she will learn a lot. A meeting which will also bring her a little closer to the Olympic Games. If not those of Paris, those of… Los Angeles in 2028!
”Every gymnast dreams of going to the Games and I’m no different! smiles Mika. I’m going to work hard and we’ll see what the future holds for me.”
