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USA Gymnastics: How did it feel to win the Winter Cup Challenge all-around title?
Joey: It felt really good. This was my first competition since coming back from the Olympics so I didn’t know what to expect. I just took it one routine at a time and it all worked out. I made all of my routines. I hope to fix a few things and improve upon my sets but overall I was pleased with everything. I’ve only been doing routines for about a month – we started routines right after the holidays so I was very happy with how well it went.
USA Gymnastics: Have you changed any of your routines since the Games?
Joey: I changed around my floor routine a little bit, but the rest of the routines were the same. The Code of Points changed but the changes didn’t really affect my routines too much – just on floor. It lowered my start value a little bit on all the events but not enough to be concerned at this point in the quad.
USA Gymnastics: What event were you most pleased with at Winter Cup?
Joey: I was most happy with my floor routine because it was a new routine.
USA Gymnastics: How are you preparing for the Tyson American Cup?
Joey: After this weekend at the Winter Cup Challenge, I’m trying to recover. My body is still a little sore. I’ll continue to do routines and get ready for the competition.
USA Gymnastics: Do you know about the tradition of champions that have come out of the Tyson American Cup event? What are your goals for this event?
Joey: Yes, it will be an honor to compete in this meet. My goals are to prepare just like any other meet – one step at a time. There are a lot of good competitors in the event so I will need every tenth I can get.
USA Gymnastics: Will you do the same routines as you did at Winter Cup or make some changes?
Joey: The event is less than two weeks away so I will do everything the same as Winter Cup.
USA Gymnastics: What is your favorite event to compete?
Joey: My favorite event to compete is high bar because I love the way the crowd gets into it, and also vault because it takes only 10 seconds to finish.
USA Gymnastics: What is the most challenging event for you?
Joey: My most challenging events are rings because my shoulders just don't like that event anymore, and pommel horse because that event is just always hard.
USA Gymnastics: Has anything changed since you won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games? Is life different at all?
Joey: Yes, people recognize me a little bit now. In the past I was always in the background. I don’t like to talk too much -- I’m kind of quiet and shy. Justin (Spring), Raj (Bhavsar) and Jonathan (Horton) are the talkers, and Alexander (Artemev), Kevin (Tan) and I are more quiet. But, now people seem to recognize me.
USA Gymnastics: You’re still at the U.S. Olympic Training Center right? What is your daily schedule?
Joey: We train twice a day, from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. On Thursday we have just one practice from 10-11:30 a.m., and also one on Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. When we’re not in the gym we hang out in our rooms, watch movies, or play games. I especially like this video game called Final Fantasy 11. It’s an online game on my computer and it takes up a lot of time. We also go to the training room before practice to prepare for the day.
USA Gymnastics: Do you get back home to Albuquerque much to visit family and friends?
Joey: I haven’t been back home lately since we’ve been training hard for the Winter Cup Challenge and Tyson American Cup, but I look forward to going back soon. My sister is pregnant with twins and she is due in March. I hope to get back to see the babies. I already have nine nieces and nephews, but this will be the first set of twins in our family.
USA Gymnastics: What do you like to do when you’re not training?
Joey: I go out with the guys on the team for sushi about once a week and see a movie. I also see Brett McClure once in a while. He’s the assistant coach at the U.S. Air force Academy.
USA Gymnastics: Thanks Joey for your time and congratulations on winning the Winter Cup Challenge and good luck at Tyson American Cup.