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Chat Reel: Blaine Wilson

Gymnast out for a year after shoulder injury

Blaine Wilson plans to be competing for the U.S. national team in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Shaun Botterill/Allsport

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with Blaine Wilson. Thanks for joining us!
Blaine Wilson: Thanks you good to be here.

From Mike in Chicago, Ill.: Blaine - I am glad to see you continuing after the Games, the US needs you. Can you tell us a little bit about your injury and how it happened?
Blaine Wilson: Well, a week ago I was swinging the pommel horse and something in my shoulder just snapped.

From Lex in Wisconsin: I heard about your injury. So you won't be able to compete at Nationals, Worlds, or Goodwill Games now. When do you think your next meet will be? Something in mid-2002, right?
Blaine Wilson: Yes, one year from now is the expected date of my comeback.

From Rob in Virginia Beach: Blaine - first off, I hope that you recover soon and you are back in the game. Is there any word on who will replace you at the Goodwill Games if you can't make it? Maybe Townsend?
Blaine Wilson: Quite possibley, I don't know if they made adjustments to that yet. I not sure the USGA is going to put in that spot. So, I can't say yet.

From Leprechaun: Blaine, you are a big hero of mine. I was wondering when you would decide whether or not to compete in Athens 2004? Good luck!
Blaine Wilson: Probably after the surgery. I still plan on competing but I'm not sure for how long. But I do plan on competing in 2004. We will have to see after the surgery.

From Kaitlyn: What is the one aspect of gymnastics that makes you continue going on and not just start leading a normal life?
Blaine Wilson: The competition. It's hard to explain it. You look at Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods and see they love the competition. And I like it, too. That is why I didn't retire.

From GymnastWebmastr: Since you won't be at the 2001 Nationals, can you predict who will top the standings?
Blaine Wilson: I'm not a fortune teller but the people I see up there are Sean Townsend and Brett McClure, the Hamms. And then the field is open. I predict Jason Gatson will make a comeback. And you have some of the college guys like Raj Bahvsar.

From Kristin in Toledo, Ohio: Hey Blaine, I was wondering if you ever check out web sites that people have made for you on the internet?
Blaine Wilson: Actually, I haven't been able to go online lately because I just moved. But I have checked some of them out. And it's exciting to know you have so many fans rooting for you.

From tumblingfool999 in Houston, Texas: Have you ever been able to do a double twisting double layout on floor? If not then what is/was your hardest skill to do?
Blaine Wilson: Yes, I have done a double twist-double layout on the floor, but I have not done it on a hard mat.

From Gary in Newport News, Va.: Blaine, What kind of diet do you maintain to keep that marvelous physique in such an awesome state?
Blaine Wilson: I don't diet too much. Basically, I eat what I want to eat. I don't drink pop and I don't eat candy bars.

From FSUTY42: How was it working on the TV show "The Jersey?"
Blaine Wilson: It was interesting. It was a little different working with actors. But it was fun to get to do something like that.

From Jason in Dallas: Hey Blaine who was your role model in gymnastics?
Blaine Wilson: John Roethlisberger. Our gymnastics are very much the same. A lot of my gymnastic I got from John Roethlisberger.

From Tom Vetting in Chicago, Ill.: How was it like to be working with Vanessa Atler and other champions during the tour?
Blaine Wilson: It's awesome to be part of a tour. You get to meet so many people on the tour. It's amazing to meet the caliber of athletes and to surround yourself with them.

From Lex in Wisconsin: What kind of new skills were you training prior to your rotator cuff tear?
Blaine Wilson: Every event was new to me. I had a lot of new skills that I had to do according to the code. So everything was new to me.

From ally178: How did you meet your wife?
Blaine Wilson: I met her at the training center in Colorado Springs. We ran into each other every single day.

From FSUTY42: At what age did you really start to concentrate strictly on gymnastics?
Blaine Wilson: Age 13, just before high school. As I entered high school all I did was gymnastics.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Blaine Wilson - thanks and we hope your shoulder heals soon!
Blaine Wilson: No problem, thank you very much.

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