Hollie Vise was only 11 when she burst on the world scene at the Moscow News.

Today, that moment seems both eons ago and like yesterday at the same time. Now, Vise is ready to make her mark on the senior scene after earning silver in the all-around at the past two Junior National Championships.  

Having already experienced some success on the international front (bronze on bars and beam at the 2001 Goodwill Games, All-around champion at the 2002 Pacific Alliance, Junior division), Vise is eager to claim a spot on her first World Championships team.  Many see Vise as a bars and beam specialist on that team, having proven that she can generate huge scores on those events with her incredible flexibility, tremendous form, and unique combinations. (She also earned the junior national title on both of those events last year.)

And at this week's National Championships, Vise wouldn't mind taking one of the top three all-around positions, guaranteeing a spot on the World team. Over the past year, she's battled through a growth spurt, an elbow injury, and also a minor back injury last month. This week, however, she'll put all of that behind her to focus on her first Senior Nationals. 

INSIDE GYMNASTICS: Your coach, Evgeny Marchenko, told us that you hurt your back recently. How is that injury coming?

HOLLIE VISE: It’s hurting a lot less this week. It’s a lot better now. It only hurts when I do lots and lots of tumbling and stuff. So, I’m still doing those things, just not quite as many and it feels a lot better. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.

INSIDE GYM: What are your goals for USAs?

HOLLIE: Well, first of all, I’m just hoping to hit all of my routines and go eight-for-eight. My big goal is to place in the top three in the all-around and earn one of those [guaranteed] World team spots.

INSIDE GYM: Do you feel confident you can achieve those goals?

HOLLIE: Yeah, I feel good. Everything is going well for me right now.

INSIDE GYM: What should people be watching for from you? 

>HOLLIE: Bars and beam are still my best events. I was the national champ last year on both of those. Hopefully, I can do the same this year.

INSIDE GYM: You’ve always been known for your dance and flexibility. Do you work on those?

HOLLIE: I guess I am probably better at the artistry stuff. I’ve come a long way on my tumbling and power, but I do enjoy dancing a lot more.

[For me,] the flexibility came naturally. I’ve always been like that. But [my coaches] helped a lot with my dance. When I came from my old gym I couldn’t dance at all, to be honest (laughs). Now, we do a lot of ballet and stuff like that. Plus, our choreographer (Natalya Marakova) is the best.

INSIDE GYM: You’ve got a new floor routine for this season. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

HOLLIE: It’s a tango and it’s kind of a … Well, kind of a sexy routine (giggles). I like it a lot and I really enjoy doing it. It’s my favorite routine so far.

INSIDE GYM: Your gym, WOGA,  is one of the most successful gyms in the country right now in terms of developing elite gymnasts. What is it that contributes to that success?

HOLLIE: It’s all about the coaches. They were all gymnasts in Russia and they know what we’re going through and how to help us. They help us with everything.

INSIDE GYM: Being part of such a successful program also means you’ve got a lot of teammates. Is that a positive thing?

HOLLIE: For sure! I love having so many teammates. I think it would be really hard to work out by myself. We push each other to get better and we’re all friends. (Pictured below, WOGA teammates:  Nastia Liukin, Nina Kim, Hollie, and Allison Taylor)

INSIDE GYM: How do you stay friends when you’re always competing against each other?

HOLLIE: I don’t really know, but even though we are competing [against each other], and we’re really serious and focused in competition, we also want each other to be successful and we’re also cheering each other on.

There has never been a time when any of us weren’t friends because someone beat someone else.

INSIDE GYM: One of WOGA’s hallmarks is picture-perfect form. Is that something you work on a lot?

HOLLIE: Yeah. We’ve always taken the time to make our skills cleaner. We don’t want to rush the skills and be sloppy. Our coaches don’t want us to do a hard routine, but be sloppy, because you won’t get a good score that way.

We always make sure to learn a skill [correctly] and not rush into anything.

INSIDE GYM: You’ve said your goal is to make the World Championships team this year, which would be your first Worlds. What are you expectations for an event that major?

HOLLIE: Well, I’ve never been to a [World Championships] to watch, or see what’s going on, so I’m not really sure, but I think it will be really exciting, especially because it will be in California. I think the US has the definite advantage there.

INSIDE GYM: How well do you think the US squad can do?

HOLLIE: I think we can win. We have a lot of girls that are really good. I think we’re very even at the top—all at about the same level—and our depth is very strong.

INSIDE GYM: Besides yourself, who do you see as 2003 US World team contenders?

HOLLIE: Wow, there’s a lot. My teammate, Carly (Patterson). Ashley Postell, Courtney Kupets, Sam Sheehan, Tasha (Schwikert), Chellsie (Memmel). There are just so many right now.

INSIDE GYM: Looking ahead, what do you need to do between now and next year to assure yourself a spot on the 2004 Olympic team?

HOLLIE: Well, Marta (Karolyi) looks like she’ll be the one choosing everyone.

[To be on the team], I think I need to show her consistency. She doesn’t want to have to guess if you’re going to go up there and make it or not. Consistency is very important. She wants to KNOW you’re going to hit. If I can do that, I think I have a pretty good [chance].

Also, I guess I need to keep upgrading my tumbling and vaulting.

INSIDE GYM: What are you working on there to increase your Start Values?

HOLLIE: (laughs) Well, I’ve kind of tried everything. Last year I was only doing a Yurchenko-full [on vault] and now I’m doing a Yurchenko full-twist on, pike off, which is a 9.7, instead of a 9.5 [Start Value], so I’m pretty proud of that. I’ve also added some jumps to my floor routine and increased the Start Value there.

Now, I’ll just keep working at it and go out there and show them I’m ready. That’s all I can do, I guess.

(Prior to her elbow injury and growth spurt, Vise was also training a piked full-in and an Arabian double front on floor.)

INSIDE GYM: Tell me a little about your family. How do they support you?

HOLLIE: Well, they’re great! My dad works two jobs so that he can help pay for my gym and my [three] brothers’ sports. [My parents] have just always done everything for me they can.

They’ll both be in Milwaukee to watch me, but I’m not sure [about my brothers].

INSIDE GYM: Because your family has made so many sacrifices for the sport, do you ever feel pressure to perform well for them?

HOLLIE: Not pressure, really, but it’s always nice if I do good. That way I feel like their sacrifices have paid off. But, it’s not like they’re mad or anything. They know that I can have a bad day. Everyone has a bad day sometimes.

INSIDE GYM: What else exciting is going on in your life, outside the gym? 

HOLLIE: Oh, yeah, I’m learning to drive. It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy driving a lot. I can’t wait until I get my real license! (Hollie's Mom often lets her practice driving to and from the gym.)

INSIDE GYM: Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on anything by being a gymnast?

HOLLIE: No, not at all. After I’m done with gymnastics, I’ll have time for all that stuff. I can only do this (gymnastics) right now. There’s always time to go out and have fun.

INSIDE GYM: What’s the best thing about gymnastics for you?

HOLLIE: I guess I just have fun doing it. I’ve done it all my life and gymnastics, well, gymnastics basically is my life. I have a lot of fun doing it and it allows me to travel a lot.

INSIDE GYM: And the worst thing?

HOLLIE: (long pause) I don’t know. I guess whenever you’re having a bad day.

But my coach always says, ‘Hard work never disappears.’ Which means that if you’re having a bad day, but you’re still working your hardest, it’s still worth something. You’ll still have something to show for it tomorrow. You just have to keep going and hope that tomorrow is better.

INSIDE GYM: What’s your ultimate dream for USAs? What would the perfect outcome be for you?

HOLLIE: Hmm, if I could have everything I wanted? Well, I guess I’d win, of course (laughs). Yeah, [being the national champ], that’s a dream of mine.

SCOUTING REPORT:  HOLLIE VISE 

(Taken from the May/June issue of Inside Gymnastics magazine)

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