Freshman Feature: Emilie Hong

AMES, Iowa - Emilie Hong is the lone international signee joining Iowa State for the 2021 season. She is moving from Canada to Ames and is ready to start her journey as a Cyclone.

Being recruited to be a collegiate gymnast was a dream come true for Hong. When visiting Iowa State, she fell in love with the campus and the gymnastics program.

"When I visited the campus it really felt a lot like home to me," Hong said. "I like how they put an emphasis on academics and the team is willing to help with accommodations."

Although the pandemic has made team bonding a lot harder this year, Hong says that the athletes and coaches have put in work to try and build relationships.

"The coaches try and plan events in the gym with masks to get everyone involved," Hong noted. "It's been hard, but the coaches have been helping a lot. I've become really close with the whole team; they've all been super sweet."

Hong brings a lot of experience and success with her to Ames. In 2019 she was the Canadian Level 10 National Champion on vault, hitting a perfect 10.0. She has been Western Canadian vault champion three times and claimed silver on the event in 2019 at the Canada Winter Games.

Even though the weather has not been much of a change between Canada and Ames, Hong says that it was a big adjustment.

"I didn't know anyone here," Hong commented. "A lot of the words and slang are different, and the grading system was a really big change. The biggest change is that once you get off campus there's not many trees or greenery."

Regardless of the changes Hong says that she can't wait for the season to begin. "I'm excited to compete in a different setting than I'm used to. College meets are a whole other level," Hong noted.

Hong and the No. 18 Cyclones begin the gymnastics season on Friday, Jan. 15 against No. 8 Denver at Hilton Coliseum.