Enjoying the Experience

Enjoying the Experience

Emma Stevenson was almost at a loss for words when asked if she could sum up her experience on the University of Iowa gymnastics team in just a few. “An experience of a lifetime”, is what the tall (for a gymnast) Iowa Junior decided on. With the Big Ten adding Nebraska into the mix, the conference is that much more competitive in 2012. Stevenson has contributed immensely in her third season competing for the Hawkeyes, highlighted by three event wins on uneven bars thus far in 2012.

Some athletes don’t know what they’ve got in terms of coaching until the twilight of their careers, but Stevenson raves about the staff at Iowa. She attributes her recent bars success to a coaching contingent that understands her technique. As is evident, the GymHawk program uses Emma’s line and aggressive swing to their advantage on the event. Capped by an amazingly aggressive, floaty, and most importantly, fully stretched double layout, Stevenson consistently puts an exclamation point on the squad’s uneven bars rotation.

The figurehead of Iowa’s program is Olympian, World Championship event finalist and former-LSU standout, Larissa Libby. It doesn’t make much to notice the passion Libby has for gymnastics. Tuning into the Big Ten Network’s coverage of Iowa’s events, you can be sure to see Libby fist-pumping, jumping, hugging, and encouraging her athletes for the entire broadcast. “Larissa is great,” Stevenson notes, “She cares about us as people…she [and the staff] work so hard to accommodate our lives and make sure everything is going well."

Emma’s time at Iowa has been a steady improvement. She was on the 2010 squad that shocked the Big Ten, finishing third at the conference championships. Stevenson was a regular contributor on the team in her first two seasons, but third has already surpassed the previous two. “I definitely see myself as a leader on the team. I might not be the most vocal, but I try to lead by example.” The humility in Stevenson’s voice seems to expand the spotlight from her onto the entire team.

As the post-season looms, the first Big Ten Championship with an upstart Nebraska squad will take place in Iowa City. Stevenson is, of course, excited to have the meet on Hawkeye turf, but remains calm and collected. “We aren’t approaching as anything more special than any other year. Larissa always tells us, ‘When we’re at a meet, we’re only at that meet…when we’re on one event, we’re only on that event.’”

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