Freshman Feature: Ana Palacios

AMES, Iowa – Being a member on the Spanish National Gymnastics team has led freshman Ana Palacios around the world competing for her home country. Her biggest accomplishment in her illustrious gymnastics career was competing as an all-around gymnast in the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival. However, Palacios had a unique entry into the gymnastics world.

"I started when I was seven years old," Palacios recalled. "I started to do taekwondo at first because of my sister. One day I was watching TV and saw a gymnastics competition. I talked to my parents and that's what I wanted to do."

Palacios, who hails from Barcelona, said she didn't realize she loved the sport until she was placed in an elite gymnastics center at age nine.

Quickly after her start in an elite center, she was asked to accompany the Spanish National Team for a competition at age 12. This opened a completely new avenue in her gymnastics career.

"I started traveling around Europe and last year I went to Canada, which was the furthest place I've been," Palacios stated.

With her career for the Spanish National team to the side for now, she believes her time in international competition will help her transition into college gymnastics for the Cyclones.

"It helps with the mental process and competing under pressure which is going to help me competing at Iowa State," Palacios said.

Palacios said that she always knew she wanted to get into college gymnastics, but it was difficult to do so because of lack of other Spanish gymnasts making this transition.

"I've wanted to become a college gymnast since I was little, but I didn't know how to exactly do it," Palacios discussed. "In Spain, no one really does that. (ISU assistant coach) Nilson (Medeiros Savage) saw me and asked if I wanted to come here. He explained to me how everything works. Since then, everything started to get serious."

As the recruiting process continued, Palacios became more accustomed to the university through Iowa State's coaches and a visit to the campus.

"Last year I took an official visit here," Palacios remembered. "I got to know a little bit of the campus and how practice works and everything. Before classes started this year, I did a week-long orientation for international students which helped a lot."

Palacios also mentioned that knowing Medeiros Savage and having sophomore and fellow Spanish gymnast Natalia Ros Vaquer on the team helped her choosing Iowa State.

With the first official practice beginning last month, Palacios has already noticed that her coaches always, "push you, but it's to get the best out of you."

Iowa State gymnastics has already started prepping for the upcoming season and fans can see Palacios at the first home meet on Jan. 18 against Oregon State at Hilton Coliseum.

Players Mentioned

Natalia Ros Vaquer

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics