WILLIAMSBURG– Aidan Cuy, a member of the mens gymnastics team at William & Mary, had no expectation of becoming the USAG Collegiate National All Around Champion, but when the scores were tabulated, he was on top of the podium.
Cuy began gymnastics as a toddler, saying he enjoyed the challenge that gymnastics presented. Now a senior at William & Mary, he takes with him a love of the sport and the national championship trophy.
Competing in the all around at William & Mary for the past four years, Cuy had been steadily working to improve his scores. After placing just off the podium last year, he set his goal for this year to have a better meet at Nationals.
“Going into Nationals, I knew it was a possibility that I could win, but it was never a main focus in my head. I don’t want to cloud my thoughts and get too hyper-focused on one thing. I would watch my scores come in and just move on to the next event,” Cuy said.
Even not paying attention to the scoreboard as he was competing at the National Championships, Cuy knew he was having a great meet. After his final event, a teammate informed him that he was at the top of the standings. With one competitor left to go, Cuy waited for the final scores to come in.
“It wasn’t until I finished my last routine, and I watched the score come in and I said ‘okay, not bad,’ I wasn’t sure what my all around score was at that point. When I came back over to the team, one of my teammates said ‘you are in first right now’ and I didn’t believe him. I was looking at the scores online and I was shocked. I knew I had a good day but I was still surprised,” Cuy said.
When he saw first place with his name, it was a dream come true.
“It means a lot to me because I’ve been doing the all around for the team for at least three years now. Each year I’ve been stepping closer and closer to satisfaction so to finally win the all around and have it come together and work out in my favor is a very proud moment for me,” Cuy says.
Graduating in May, Cuy will take with him the many life lessons that the sport taught him. He also hopes that his win helps inspire the next generation of male gymnasts.
“It will be hard and challenging but the rewards that you get, whether it is awards and medals through competitions or the new skills that you make, the small victories that you come across as you do more and more far outweigh the challenge to get there.”