Coming off his World Championships gold medal win for still rings last October, gymnast and Baltimore native Donnell Whittenburg is focused on recovery and rest before getting into shape for his next competition.
“It’s kind of a quickish turnaround but I’m going to try to pace myself as much as I can,” he said. “I want to make sure I’m not coming back way too quick before my body is ready.”
Whittenburg is the first American to win gold in the still rings competition at a World Championships gymnastics competition, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and, at 31 years and 61 days, also has become the oldest competitor to do so, according to USA Gymnastics.
Although it’s not decided where Whittenburg, 31, will compete next — it could be Egypt, Turkey or Brazil, not to mention the Winter Cup in Kentucky this month — he’s still focused on making it to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles while taking extra care of his Achilles injury from 2024.
Whittenburg said he is used to training in Florida, knowing that the decision to move was locking him into four years of dedication to his sport.
“I had to really emphasize that goal and really try to push forward,” he said. “Honestly, right now, it’s going great.”
Although the spirit of competition and Whittenburg’s “ultimate goal” of competing in the Olympics keep him going (“I still have some gas in the tank to keep going, so why not?”), he is proud to be a role model for kids who look up to him.
“I want the young kids to be themselves and go out there and show the world what you can do and don’t have any regrets doing it,” Whittenburg said. “I’m going to keep trying to push to hopefully make that dream a reality.”
While he wouldn’t trade chasing his dream for anything, Whittenburg said he still misses Baltimore — specifically the seafood.
“I miss the food there,” he said. “Every time I go there I always get some seafood. So that’s nice.”
from Baltimore Sun https://ift.tt/eR7LVJM
via IFTTT
