Inside Interview: David Durante

Inside Gymnastics caught up with 2007 U.S. National Champ David Durante, whoannounces hisretirement and talks aboutlife after gymnastics as well asa recent trip to Guantanmo Bay, Cuba as part of a USO tour with three other athletes (Ian Crocker, swimming; Megan Jendrick, swimming; Donny Robinson,BMX) to visit withthe troops. 

Tell us a little about what life has been like since returning from Beijing…

It’s been hectic. I’ve been doing lots of events back home. I had knee surgery a few days ago. It was to repair a torn ACL from earlier this year. So I’m recovering from that right now. I also took the assistant coach position for Stanford so I’ll be moving back to Cali in two weeks.

When we last spoke, you were contemplating your plans for the future. What’s your plan in terms of continuing to compete or retiring?

Right now, I’m trying to get healthy and get to Stanford and help the guys for the upcoming season . I’m pretty sure I’m going to retire. I’m moving to Italy after the Stanford season in the summer, which I’m excited about, but yeah… I’m gonna retire.

So many of the men’s team members from this year talk about how important you were to the team and its success. What are your thoughts as you look back on the process leading to the Olympics and the Olympic experience you had?

It was incredible. Definitely a roller coaster of emotions. Different than I pictured. I didn’t get a medal, but the only thing that has ever mattered to me was the success of the team and whatever my role was, I was going to do everything possible to make sure we succeeded. I’m proud to be a part of what they did. I feel fortunate to have been there and to have experienced it for the first time.