Thursday, April 16, 1998
A bruin double-take
Light-hearted gymnast not affected by
gravity of sport
By Steve Kim
Daily Bruin Staff
Floating grace and stealthy strength, all in a petite package.
Isn’t that what every gymnast wants to be?
Stella Umeh already is. She’s been one of the best for quite a
while.
Olympics, NCAA Champion-ships, she’s done it all. At 5 feet 2
inches tall, she doesn’t need height for others to look up to her.
She has skills like you’ll never believe.
She glides over air, almost suspended, with such smoothness and
lightness that she makes it look natural, effortless. Add power and
flowing, flexible limbs – then you have a model gymnast.
She, who so shamelessly flirts with gravity with such ease and
finesse, has talent screaming from within her. She was born to
perform.
"What makes Stella so special to watch out there is her
God-given talent," coach Valorie Kondos said. "And she doesn’t take
it for granted."
She never has.
"It’s a gift," Umeh explained. "I’ve been blessed with a huge
talent, and I’m not in a position to waste it. So every meet I go
to, I just go in and do my absolute best."
Even if that means physical pain. All the pounding takes its
toll. Injury is common in this sport, and if you’re lucky, maybe it
won’t show. Then you’re allowed to perform in front of an eager
audience who expect nothing but perfection while you’re trying to
hide the immense pain with a brilliant performance and even more
brilliant smile.
And they think it’s so easy.
"I’m not one to pull things out of my routines. I don’t like
that," she said. "God willing, I try to keep everything in
there."
She’s so tough, so dedicated, so driven to do her best, you
would never know how lightly she takes her sport. She’s almost
nonchalant. But she insists not taking gymnastics too seriously is
the only way to go.
"My character strength in terms of gymnastics is that I never
took it too seriously," Umeh said. "I never breathed and slept
gymnastics. I had a normal childhood with some added quirks of
traveling here and there. I never looked at it and said, ‘This is
me, this is how I identify myself – pure gymnastics.’ No, I’m
Stella, and I just happen to do gymnastics.
"The fact that I never took it seriously helps me come here day
in and day out. There are so many other things, such as friends,
family and God, that mean so much to me. Gymnastics is just one
more facet of my life."
Her coach believes Umeh’s attitude is what makes for a
successful gymnast.
"The key is to get relaxed," Kondos said. "When you focus too
much on, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to hit this routine,’ you’re not going
to hit it. But when you relax while focusing on doing each skill as
correctly as possible, then you’ve got a good chance.
"It’s not World War III, it’s gymnastics. And to keep that
perspective is so important."
Taking oneself lightly is one thing, but cracking a joke in the
middle of a balance beam routine is another.
On the most nerve-raking apparatus, she stops suddenly and
announces she has a cramp. After holding an awkward pose for five
seconds, she finally announces it went away and continues with one
of the most difficult beam routines that will be performed, all
while shouting more boisterous comments. Umeh is the ultimate at
having fun.
"Stella is tremendous comedy relief," Kondos laughed. "She is
absolutely crazy. You get in her in the mood – and you never know
when that mood’s going to show up – and she just goes off. She’ll
stick her stomach out about two feet – I don’t know how she does
it, but she does it – she’ll contort her face in the most hideous
way and she’ll just start dancing so awfully! You just can’t help
but laugh and laugh and laugh."
Clowning around and doing routines at the same time. Now that’s
talent.
"I find that if you’re too intense about what you’re doing, you
kind of lose track of the reason why you’re doing it. I’m not about
that. If you don’t enjoy something that you’re doing, there’s no
point.
"I concentrate, but I’m not the kind who totally needs to be
focused on what she’s doing. I’ve been doing this for so long, so I
trust my body."
Such trust in herself has pulled her through many meets with
explosive routines, even when she was injured.
"There are times when her body’s telling her she can’t do this,
but she has the faith and experience to pull off," Kondos said.
"UCLA gymnastics stand true to the philosophy that we go in
every meet wanting to do our best," Umeh said. "We never, ever want
to walk away from a situation with regrets."
And the NCAA Championships, her final competition, are no
exception. It’ll be showtime as usual – nothing extraordinary – to
add to a memory of great performances.
"This meet’s going to be the same as it’s been since I was six –
just go out there and have fun. Give pleasure to so many people who
I know and supported me. Just do what I’m supposed to be doing. And
I know I’m capable of it. Don’t do anything more, don’t do anything
less."
So into the spotlight she goes for one more time. Being labeled
the best gymnast has its flattering side. Being winner of so many
first places and awards is also nice. She has done for the Bruins
what few have. But Stella Umeh isn’t about that.
Whichever way you look at it, she’s a standout in all her
unconventional ways. She redefines the word "casual," with carefree
laughs and ease in which she executes her skills. It’s almost as if
she’s saying, "Hey, no sweat," and one may argue anyone can do all
that if one’s got talent like hers.
But few do.
So flaunt it if you got it. Why not? you’re only young once. And
once you’ve had your fill, make room on the table for others.
Umeh has accepted that her time has come.
"I’m one who likes to close the book after I finish the chapter.
And this meet would be the end of a chapter. I don’t like to
overstay my welcome, so if I had anything to do with it, it’ll be
my last."
DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin
Senior gymnast Stella Umeh is enjoying her final season at
UCLA.