I blinked for a second during Vanessa Zamarripa’s vault in Saturday’s team finals. She landed on her knees and I blinked again.
Wait, what?
Was that practice?

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For just a moment, before forcing a smile to her face and throwing her hands in the air, senior Vanessa Zamarripa froze.

“Individual squares of a trampoline” was how coach Valorie Kondos Field described her gymnasts at the beginning of the year.

Before every meet, UCLA gymnastics performs a candlelit ritual.

The UCLA gymnastics team, standing in the corral next to vault, burst out in cheers when redshirt junior Vanessa Zamarripa’s feet hit the ground. Zamarripa broke into a big smile as she ran to hug her coaches and teammates.

DULUTH, Ga. “”mdash; Senior Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs landed her aerial flip on beam leaning backwards and began slightly flailing her arms, trying to regain her balance, but lost the battle.

Four years ago, sophomore Samantha Peszek stood atop the podium during the medal ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Put on some lively music and glance at Vanessa Zamarripa. Chances are, she will start dancing.

CLEVELAND “”mdash; You could see the tension. Covered white with chalk, toes fiercely gripped the leather skin of the balance beam, refusing to let go.