University of Minnesota Athletics
Freshman Spotlight: Ben Winkel
7/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
July 27, 2015
Gophersports.com caught up with incoming freshman, Afton, Minn. native, Ben Winkel about what he's most looking forward to this coming season both on and off the competition floor.
How did you get into gymnastics?
My sister used to take classes and my mom was forced to bring me along since my dad worked and we did not have a babysitter. Instead of just having me sit and watch my sister do gymnastics for an hour, my mom decided to put me in a class so I would have something to do. This was when I was 3-years-old and it stuck with me ever since then.
How did you get into gymnastics?
My sister used to take classes and my mom was forced to bring me along since my dad worked and we did not have a babysitter. Instead of just having me sit and watch my sister do gymnastics for an hour, my mom decided to put me in a class so I would have something to do. This was when I was 3-years-old and it stuck with me ever since then.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I played baseball for a long time. I started out in tee-ball when I was around 5 and I eventually played on a traveling team with my school friends until I was around 13. I quit baseball when it became to hard to balance it with gymnastics.
I played baseball for a long time. I started out in tee-ball when I was around 5 and I eventually played on a traveling team with my school friends until I was around 13. I quit baseball when it became to hard to balance it with gymnastics.
Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
I chose the University of Minnesota because it is a great school and also because of the gymnastics team. I was teammates with multiple of the guys currently on the team at previous club gyms and had developed close relationships with all of them.
I chose the University of Minnesota because it is a great school and also because of the gymnastics team. I was teammates with multiple of the guys currently on the team at previous club gyms and had developed close relationships with all of them.
Have you chosen a major or leaning towards a specific area of study?
I am planning on majoring in electrical engineering.
I am planning on majoring in electrical engineering.
What do you like to do in your free time when you're not training in the gym?
I love hanging out with my friends, most of which are teammates. I also like to watch movies and listen to music. I am an avid gymnastics fan and like to know what's going on in the sport at all times so I watch a lot of gymnastics videos on YouTube.
I love hanging out with my friends, most of which are teammates. I also like to watch movies and listen to music. I am an avid gymnastics fan and like to know what's going on in the sport at all times so I watch a lot of gymnastics videos on YouTube.
What are you most looking forward to as a UMN gymnast?
I am most excited about the team experience. Men's gymnastics is a small sport and because of that, most club teams consist of 3 or 4 guys, which is fun because you get to know your teammates very well and become good friends, but it makes the sport a more individual thing. Coming to college, I will have a team of around 20 guys who are all passionate about the sport like I am, and we all depend on each other to be the best team possible.
I am most excited about the team experience. Men's gymnastics is a small sport and because of that, most club teams consist of 3 or 4 guys, which is fun because you get to know your teammates very well and become good friends, but it makes the sport a more individual thing. Coming to college, I will have a team of around 20 guys who are all passionate about the sport like I am, and we all depend on each other to be the best team possible.
Who was your athletic role model growing up?
The first Olympics I remember watching while growing up was the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Because of that, Paul Hamm was always the gymnast I looked up to when I was younger. As I grew up, I started to look up to teammates and it was a great motivator to have them in the gym, working out with me.
The first Olympics I remember watching while growing up was the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Because of that, Paul Hamm was always the gymnast I looked up to when I was younger. As I grew up, I started to look up to teammates and it was a great motivator to have them in the gym, working out with me.
What's your favorite part about gymnastics? Do you have a favorite apparatus?
My favorite part about gymnastics is the feeling you get when you finally make a new skill. It is the perfect mix of adrenaline and excitement because all of the hard work paid off. My favorite event is parallel bars.
My favorite part about gymnastics is the feeling you get when you finally make a new skill. It is the perfect mix of adrenaline and excitement because all of the hard work paid off. My favorite event is parallel bars.
What type of music most pumps you up for competition?
I like to listen to anything that has a fast tempo and a good beat. This ends of being some type of electronic music.
I like to listen to anything that has a fast tempo and a good beat. This ends of being some type of electronic music.
Do you have any pre-competition rituals or superstitions?
I am not a very superstitious person. I just try to do anything to take my mind off the meet and keep my nerves under control.
I am not a very superstitious person. I just try to do anything to take my mind off the meet and keep my nerves under control.
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