Just days removed from being named to the U.S. Olympic team, former University of Oklahoma gymnastics standout Jonathon Horton was back in Norman on Thursday. With dozens of camp participants looking on at OU's Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center, Horton performed a part of his routine on the high bar and signed dozens of autographs. Afterward, Horton talked with Oklahoman staff writer Zach West about his upcoming Olympic experience.
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Q: How exciting was it to hear your name called for the U.S. Olympic team?
A: It was an amazing feeling, a surreal feeling. It still really hasn't hit me that I'm going to be representing the United States at the greatest stage this sport has to offer — the Olympic Games. It was incredible being up there on the floor when they said my name. I basically froze and just was like, ‘Wow, I did it.' Eighteen years of training finally made this dream come true. I'm just excited about going over there and getting the job done.
Q: What are your expectations in terms of competing — especially against China, the top team in the world?
A: I tell everyone I want to go there and do something great. I don't want to just go to this competition trying for second or third, knowing that China is the most dominant (in the) sport. Anything can happen in the Olympic Games, especially on their home court. You know, they might have some nerves that they're struggling with. For me, and I know the rest of the team, we're just going to go there, we want to do great routines, put on a great show for the rest of the world to watch. If we do our jobs and hit our routines, and walk away first, second or third, I know we'll be happy.
Q: Now, Paul Hamm was the first person named (to the Olympic squad). What have you heard about him and his (hand) injury? Do you believe he's going to be able to compete?
A: He's fine. I spoke with him a lot this past week. I shook his hand, and I was like, ‘Oh, man, sorry, I didn't mean to shake your hand.' He was like, ‘Nah, it doesn't hurt.' He's doing basic stuff and says it's not bothering him at all. He's way ahead of schedule. He says he'll be ready — there's no doubt in his mind. And the rest of us believe in him, too.
Q: What's your schedule like in the next couple of weeks leading up to the Olympics?
A: We've just got simple training here (at OU). Routines day in and day out. We've got Olympic Team camp (in Colorado Springs) for a week and a half. After that, we're back home for five days, and we'll depart for Beijing after that (on July 29).
Q: You've been to China one time. What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about China?
A: I'd say my favorite thing is just the culture in general. It can be kind of chaotic, but the way people function … There's so many things that you can see in China — it's like endless.
I'd say definitely the food is kind of rough there. It can make you a little sick to your stomach if you're not used to it. But I'm not really worried about that. I know that the United States Olympic Committee is going to be taking care of all the team members, and we'll be fine.
Other Horton thoughts:
On when the Olympics became his main goal
I remember watching the '96 Olympic Games in Atlanta and seeing those people with the success that they had and the way people looked at them, the way I looked at those athletes, seeing all that they'd accomplished, I realized ‘This is what I want to do. I want to make it to the Olympic Games.' It's an incredible thing to be a part of.
On the night after being named to the U.S. Olympic team
I couldn't have been happier at that moment. I went home, spent the whole night with my family, just couldn't stop talking about gymnastics. If you know me, I have a rule. When I'm not in the gym, there's no talking about gymnastics because I get stressed out about it sometimes and try not to think about it. But that's all I wanted to discuss. (It was) just ‘Look what I did, I just made an Olympic team.' My parents were crying, my fiancé, Haley, was going crazy, my sister was there also. It was just an unbelievable moment.
On the attention he's gotten from being an Olympian
It's crazy. I worked my whole life for this opportunity to make it to the Olympic Games. Now that I've finally gotten there, I do, I feel like a rock star. I've had so many people come up to me asking for autographs, I've had people calling me on the phone every day. It's starting to really sink in now that I'm an Olympian. I'm going to represent the United States of America – the greatest country in the world – at the greatest stage in the world in gymnastics.
On representing OU in the Olympics
It's going to mean a lot … OU is what's brought me along way further than I thought I ever could have gotten. I'm so grateful to be able to come here and accomplish the things I did here.
More on his goals and expectations
I have these visions of standing on top of the podium, hearing the national anthem, gold medal wrapped around my neck. So I certainly see myself like that. In terms of how I see myself competing, my attitude, I just want to go have fun. I know if I have fun with it, and just enjoy the competition, all those things are going to come after that. I don't want to be too stressed out, I just want to enjoy it, have a great time out there. How many opportunities do you get to go to an Olympic Games?
It's going to be crazy. It could be an incredible story at the end of the day. I've got this feeling that something great is going to happen.
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