NEW HAVEN, Conn. – While social distancing poses deep challenges for teams to gather, friends to hangout, and community to be built, the Yale gymnastics team has not allowed COVID-19 to hinder its ability to keep up with one another. The gymnasts have created a hashtag #FacetimeFridays where the team gathers on zoom every Friday to life update, play fun games and listen to the occasional guest speaker. And on Apr. 17, 2008 Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist and All-Around Champion Nastia Liukin joined to chat about resilience, confidence and women's empowerment within the professional world.

"There is no denying that we're living in unprecedented times, filled with uncertainty and fear," said Liukin. "I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can continue to work, in some capacity, unlike many around the world. It has been my mission to help others in need, whether it be bringing light to causes or even just human connection. I have been so fortunate to have been able to connect -- while social distancing -- with so many amazing individuals, but a highlight was my conversation with the Yale Gymnastics team."
 
Yale assistant coach Andy Leis began working with NBC Sports in 2006, helping the broadcast team with research and statistics in their coverage of gymnastics. Events they cover include USA Gymnastics Championships (Nationals) and the American Cup. Every four years they add in the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games.
 
"I started my NBC position covering Nastia as a gymnast and then after 2012 Olympic Trials, she transitioned to a commentator role for NBC and all its gymnastics coverage," said Leis. "Since, I have worked alongside her and the broadcasting team. I reached to see if she would be willing to surprise the team for our weekly #FacetimeFriday Zoom call. She immediately said yes."
                                                                             
Liukin covered a wide range of topics with the team by answering several questions the gymnasts posed. She talked about adjusting to life during this challenging time and how she went from traveling every week to finding new, creative ways to keep busy (i.e. virtual workouts through Instagram). She shared her favorite at-home workouts with the team, then discussed the topic of mental health during this pandemic and how she has been trying to eat healthy and exercise. This has also provided her a time to reflect on how important family is to her and how blessed she is to be surrounded by her loved ones.
 
A large portion of time was dedicated to the life lessons Liukin learned from gymnastics and how she has carried those over into her life beyond the sport that has made her successful. Most notably, she described how one of the most defining moments of her life was not making the 2012 Olympic team. She shared her thought process and feelings the moment she fell on bars and the steps she took in overcoming what felt like failure. In that moment, she learned the importance of how you respond to situations that do not go the way you have planned.
 
Liukin shared a few projects she is currently working on and how learning the skills of hard work and perseverance as an elite gymnast has immensely helped her in the professional world. On the other hand, she also mentioned the challenges that come along with being a female Olympic Champion in the working world. Women's empowerment and advocating for females in sport means a great deal to her. She talked to the team about how vital it is to believe that you can truly do anything, stay true to yourself, and always practice humility in the process. Lastly, the team enjoyed exchanging favorite Netflix shows, books and of course, TikToks with Nastia.

"While uncertainty looms, what stuck with me from our conversation was the optimism, entrepreneurial spirit, and true kindness that emanates from this special team," said Liukin. "Their bond together lends strength to them individually, too. No matter what their future holds -- though I have very high hopes for this group -- they will always have each other. And no one, not even a pandemic, can take that away."
 
#FacetimeFridays have become quite a hit for Yale Gymnastics, becoming more creative as the weeks pass. The incoming first-years have also been added to these calls to get to know the team better. They have done pet introductions, favorite books, best soup recipes, random trivia, a scavenger hunt, scattergories, and this past week the team put together a virtual "Bulldog Days" for the incoming first years with different Yale-themed hangout rooms.
 
Like most teams at Yale, the gymnasts have been using Zoom to "get together" every Friday. Rather than discussing too many gymnastics-related topics or using it for team meetings, they decided to keep it fun, light-hearted and just enjoy the hour or two they get together each week. Life updates from each gymnast occur, including what they are doing in their spare time and how they are coping given the circumstances. A number of creative at-home workouts have been shared as well as new developments in their lives. Because the team is very close, Zoom has given the Bulldogs a chance to stay connected from all over the country and their hangouts are something they look forward to each week.
 
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