Athlete Profile: Gymnast Laura Johnson

This is the tenth in a series of question & answer stories with the members of the Golden Gopher women’s gymnastics team. A different gymnast will be featured each week, so check back soon to learn more about the Gopher gymnastics team!

The basics:

Name: Laura Johnson
Year: Senior
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
Events: All around

Q&A with Laura:

What are your favorite foods? pizza and pancakes

Favorite musical group/band? I don't really have one favorite, at the moment I like the Killers

Favorite TV show? It used to be Friends, now I'm really into Grey's Anatomy

Favorite magazine to read? Cosmo

Favorite thing about living in Minnesota? it's a big city, there are lots of things to do here

What's your most treasured posession? a pillow that my dad gave me, I've had it since I was a baby

Favorite class you've taken at the "U"? Conspiracy Theory

Favorite place to compete on the road? Utah

Favorite event to compete in? floor

Describe yourself in three words or less: aggressive, outgoing, powerful

If you had an entire day of free time, how would you spend your time? I would go shopping, spend time on hobbies like photography, and watch movies

What is one place you've always wanted to visit, but have never been to? Figi or New Zealand

If you could meet any famous person, who would you want to meet?Angelina Jolie

If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy? a 1957 Corvette

When you were five years old, what did you think you would grow up to be? a lawyer

Before a competition, what do you do to prepare yourself for the meet?visualize

What is your favorite part of a gymnastics meet in the Sports Pavilion? the fans!

How did you choose your major (journalism)? I started college thinking that I wanted to go into architecture. Then my mom told me that she never pictured me working in a field like that, she thought I would be really good at advertising, public relations, or marketing. So, I looked into it after my mom made the suggestion, and I decided that she was right, journalism was a much better fit for me. I would love to work in public relations for a Major League Baseball team, or work at a PR agency.

What has been the most challenging thing about your college experience? Getting older. Things get tougher and tougher to do, and it's hard to keep up with the 18- and 19-year old freshmen. Staying healthy is hard, too. This sport is so demanding on the body.

What is the best bit of advice that you’ve received from the coaches? Relax. We know you're good, and you know it too.

What are you looking forward to most for the 2006 season? It's my senior year, so I want to do the best routines I've ever done.

What are your goals for the upcoming season? My goals for the team are to get to nationals and hit 24 of 24 routines at all our meets. Personally, I want to be in the top three in the all around at Big Ten Championships, NCAA Regionals, and the NCAA Championship.

What do you plan to do when your college days are over? I graduate this May, but I don't really have much work experience in my field, so I'm hoping to get some internships over the summer. Eventually, I'd like to go to graduate school and get a master's degree in business.

Click on any of the names below to read athlete profiles on other Golden Gopher gymnasts.

Andy Cornelius

Stephanie Funk

Kelly Ganchan

Amanda Miles

Ashley Mutchler

Maria Opsahl

Rehana Russell

Ashley Stanton

Kelly Stout

Angela Walker

Kim Womack This is the tenth in a series of question & answer stories with the members of the Golden Gopher women’s gymnastics team. A different gymnast will be featured each week, so check back soon to learn more about the Gopher gymnastics team!