2023 Pan American Games double gold medalist Zoe Miller of the U.S. plans to use this month’s Winter Cup competition as an all-around test on her way towards this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 18-year-old Miller, who finished 12th all-around at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, trains under coaches Laurent Landi and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi at World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas. Her WCC training partners include Simone Biles, 2020 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Jordan Chiles and 2020 French Olympian Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos, all of whom are also striving for Paris.
At last fall’s Pan American Games in Santiago, Miller won gold on uneven bars and joined Chiles, Kayla DiCello and Kaliya Lincoln to earn team gold. Earlier in the year she won gold on uneven bars and team gold at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge in Stuttgart, and team gold at the Pan American Championships in Medellin.
This interview with Zoe Miller is the fourth in a series conducted at the recentU.S. women’s national team training camp in Katy, Texas.
Q: In these next few months is your mode going to be very locked-down and focused? Or do you need to find a way to almost distract yourself from non-gymnastics things to stay loose?
ZM: So far I’ve had a lot of distractions – a lot of traveling, doing a bunch of media stuff and working with a bunch of different brands. I definitely need some time to just stay in the gym and get some more sleep, probably. But I think a mix of both is always good – focusing in the gym and then getting your mind off of it outside the gym.
Q: Do you feel that fun (such as her vlogs and social media posts) is something important for your gymnastics, to enjoy it and keep pursuing it at this level?
ZM: Yes, it has definitely helped me not to be so stressed. When I was younger I would be super tunnel visioned, and super focused and nervous. People used to be like, “That girl does not like competing, she does not like her life.” And I was like, “No, I’m just scared!” So I think this past year, growing into my personality and knowing it’s OK to have a little fun has definitely helped my performances, as well.
Q: What has allowed you to be like that?
ZM: Simone. And as you get older, you stop caring what people think. It’s like, “I’m going to do me.” Simone taught me not to care what people think. We hang out so much. I’m always at her house and we’re always having sleepovers, so it’s really nice to have someone like your sister on the floor competing with you. It makes everything 10 times easier.
Q: Since Simone returned to training, how have you supported her?
ZM: She wasn’t sure she was going to come back. She was really unsure of herself when she first came back, but I think the environment (at WCC) and the distractions we brought to her really helped her and kept her grounded. I think we’ve helped a lot in her comeback.
Q: Simone, Jordan and Melanie have Olympic experience, so have there been specific words of advice or things they have taught you to prepare for this year?
ZM: Not really. They don’t really get sentimental, especially Simone (laughs). In 2021 I went through the whole (Olympic Trials) process and they helped us because we were way younger, in what to expect, so I’m assuming the same thing this year.
Q: You plan to start at LSU (Louisiana State University) after Paris. What’s it like getting to watch that team be successful and knowing that’s on the horizon after the Olympics?
ZM: I’m really excited for a change, every aspect, kind of being on my own and figuring life out. I’m really excited for a change, a new environment. I’ve been watching them a little bit but not too much. I talk to my coaches there sometimes. They try to stay out of the way for now because they know my life is super busy, so they only text when they need to.
International Gymnast Online contributing photojournalistLisa Cawthronplaced third all-around and first on vault at the 1977 U.S. Championships, eighth all-around and sixth on vault at the 1977 World Cup in Oviedo, Spain, and second toNadia Comanecion floor exercise at the 1977 U.S. vs. Romania dual meet.
International Gymnast Online Related Features:
- Kayla DiCello: ‘If I was to go for it, I had to do everything possible’
- Shilese Jones: ‘I’m a big fighter, so whatever it takes, I’m here for’
- Jordan Chiles: ‘‘I’m That Girl’ is my motto this year’
- Simone Biles: ‘With the proper work and proper help I knew I could come back’
