Local Gymnast Wins Bronze Medal: Q/A With Kristle Lowell

CHICAGO - Kristle Lowell, a trainer at the Morgan Park Sports Complex, is now two months removed from bringing home a bronze medal in the double mini trampoline event at the Gymnastics World Championships in Russia. Upon her return home to Orland Park, Lowell answered a few questions from Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Patch on her career and recent accomplishment.

Here's our Q/A with Lowell, whose answers are in italics below.

- How long have you been competing in gymnastics, and what provided you the inspiration to have a passion for it?

I’ve been doing trampoline for 23 years and I keep doing it because nothing in life compares to the feeling of flying through the air. The people of USTA (United States trampoline association) are like family too so going to competitions is like a family reunion for me.

- Can you describe how hard you trained for the world championships?

My coach (Chris Walker) and I trained 7 days a week for 3 weeks leading up to worlds as nothing can compare to the conditions at worlds. Team USA athletes trained every single day we were there on top of a time change and travel.

- Were you happy with your bronze medal in the double mini trampoline event?

I have never happier before in life. I’m happier today then the day I got the gold because so much had to be overcome for me to get to this point. I was one of the sex abuse victims of Usa gymnastics and was not allowed to compete at worlds last year. I honestly didn’t even think I would see a world stage again let alone be the only woman from the United States coming home with a medal. It was more rewarding knowing everything I overcame. The struggle gave it meaning.

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I was also diagnosed with a rare medical condition in 2014. Doctors were highly doubtful I would ever bounce again but I’ve defied the odds and I feel my sport has been the best treatment for my condition as it has kept me healthy.

- Where does this rank on your list of gymnastics accomplishments?

This means more to me then the day I got gold.

- How long have you been a trainer at Morgan Park Sports Center and what makes doing that rewarding for you?

I’ve been coaching at Morgan Park sports since March. I absolutely love it. It’s great to pass along my passion for trampoline to athletes and watch them find the same joy I experienced as a kid. I am a coach that values an athletes happiness and health over rankings and placements. I do not believe in the philosophy of breaking down athletes to produce champions. I believe in athletes loving what they do to the point they want to train harder themselves because they enjoy it. I think trampoline is a sport for everyone and promote inclusion. I love working with athletes from all backgrounds and where there is a will there is a way.

- What are your future plans in the sport?

I want to keep bouncing until I’m 40. I absolutely love this sport and want to keep doing it as long as I can. The sport has brought so much joy to my life and I want to continue with it.

I hope to try to make the team going to Japan next year and to attempt a higher degree of difficulty.

- Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know about gymnastics?

That I feel my sport gets a bad name due to trampoline parks and backyard trampoline accidents. Professional sport trampoline is very safe. With the proper training and safety practices our sport is extremely safe and the facility at Morgan Park is one of the safest I have ever seen. I would encourage all people who own a backyard trampoline or frequent trampoline parks to enroll in a trampoline class taught by a usta safety certified instructor.

I compare trampoline to the sport of marksmanship a lot. In the proper hands trampoline and marksmanship are very safe sports. In untrained hands they can be catastrophe.

Photos provided by Kristle Lowell