How was your first day?
I was so sick to my stomach, I couldn't keep from throwing up. You have to keep up your equilibrium. It doesn't happen now but it happens to everybody at first. And then when you're out of that stage, your body is just so sore. But then the next phase is learning a few tricks...well, then you can't even get out of bed! You really honestly can't.

Goddess, it looks so stressful on your body. It looks like it really takes a toll.
It really is, but then after awhile, you're trying to figure out how to get more strength, weights, what exercises, what can I eat to make me stronger. People criticize this sport a lot for it's eating disorders, but people are emphasizing on eating the right food here.

So you're not eating candy bars?
Oh, all the time. [laughs]

What is the downside to gymnastics?
A coach that doesn't care or that doesn't pay attention and doesn't teach you anything is worse than an injury.

What about getting injured?
I broke my foot and tore my tendon and I didn't want the owner of the club to know [Phyllis told me before that because of her age, if she were to get hurt, they would give her trouble.] Then this slowed me down a little bit on vault because of the fear. But I still vault. And then I tore my Achilles and had two steel plates in my foot. I came off the bar wrong and that was the bad one.

So what do you do when you can't do gymnastics? Like when you're injured?
I stretch and keep going to the gym. Getting an injury only makes you stronger and pushes you harder. Yes, it is wonderful.

How tall are you?
5'3", which is kind of tall....I wish I was a little shorter.

If you know an unknown talent write to: Jane Doe, P.O. Box 158, Heber City, UT 84032; or email: wigmag@aol.com