PRESENT STAR: YANDY STAFFORD

CCNTV6

As far as medal hauls go, this one is right up there...   As Gymnast Yandy Stafford is on the fast lane to success after dominating the recently concluded CARIFTA Championships where she captured a total of 10 Gold medals...   It was the best performance by an athlete making the recent trip to Jamaica...   We caught up with the 11 year old who was all too happy reflecting on the experience.

Transcript

00:00Great athletes know the importance of practicing a winning formula, listening to coaches and

00:22executing when the big moments arise.

00:2511-year-old Tutts and Tumblers gymnast Yandi Stafford showed that she understands this

00:30at the recently concluded Carifta Gymnastics Championships and Pago Hopes Tournament in

00:35Jamaica.

00:36She rose to the occasion by putting in an extraordinary effort worthy of acknowledgement

00:41capturing 10 gold medals.

00:43How do you feel about getting 10 gold medals?

00:46I feel very proud and happy, but I don't think it was, I don't think that I, I kind

00:59of like feel the same way, I don't feel different.

01:03She impressed team member Joanne Webb.

01:06They're all winners in my books, but I have to say Yandi, Yandi Stafford, Yandi has shown

01:15that she can stand up to the pressure, right?

01:19Yandi is the athlete who would have come out of our Carifta Championships with 10 gold

01:24medals coming out of two competitions, that is the Carifta Championships and the Pago

01:31Hopes.

01:32And, you know, she, she, she stood up to the pressure.

01:37She showed that in the midst of everything, she's able to just focus and do what needs

01:43to be done.

01:44And for a child of that age, a gymnast of that age, you know, because she's what, 11

01:50years old and she, she just stood up to the pressure, she, she didn't crumble.

01:57And for that, she is my standout athlete for the year.

02:01Although she's just 11 years old, Stafford has been showing signs of brilliance from

02:05early.

02:07She's very confident in front of camera and leaves a positive impression on her peers.

02:12Everybody is very surprised and happy for me, especially my family and friends.

02:20Overconfidence does not seem like a threat as well, even though the burden of success

02:24weighs heavy around her neck.

02:26Do you get any neck pain and stuff after wearing 10 gold medals?

02:30Yes, it's very heavy.

02:32I have to like, I have to like hold it like this so it doesn't hurt my neck a lot.

02:37All right.

02:39What do you have to do to improve?

02:41Well, I feel like I try to keep my knees straight and point my toes because sometimes

02:50I just forget to do that.

02:53All right.

02:54Do you think you are an inspiration to your peers?

02:58Yeah, I feel so.

03:01All right, so next time is what, 20 medals?

03:05Well, I don't think that's possible.

03:10But if it were, Stafford would probably want to achieve it as she sets an example for others

03:14to strive towards.

03:15Sergio Dufour, TV6 Sport.

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