In honor of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, this Powerjournalist spotlights Carly Patterson, who shares some interesting and fun facts about herself.
Her mantel holds three Olympic medals (one gold and two siler). She won the All-Around gold medal in Women’s Gymnastics at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. This made her the first American woman to win the title in two decades, and she also took home silver medals for balance beam, and the Women’s team competition.
Paterson also holds the distinction of being the first American woman to win the All-Around gold medal in Women’s Gymnastics in a non-boycotted Olympic Games. She is also an inductee of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2009, and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024.
Favorite Movies
“I love anything with Will Farrell, and I love anything funny,” she said. “I also love ‘The Holiday’; that’s a favorite of mine.”
Carly's Favorite Series to Binge-watch
On her favorite series, she remarked, “While we don’t do a lot of binge-watching at the moment, ‘The Chosen,’ is one of my favorite shows. We make sure to stay on top of that.”
Does this Olympic Athlete have a Cheat Food?
Her favorite cheat meal is “pizza.”
Carly Patterson's Favorite Mottos to live by
Her favorite mottos to live by is: “hard work never disappears.” “When I was having a rough time or a rough day, I reminded myself that as long as I stay committed, don’t give up, and keep working at it, then my hard work is not going to disappear and it will show up eventually,” she explained.
“As long as you don’t stop or quit, hard work will show up eventually,” she noted. “That was definitely my motto inside the gym and my life motto ever since.”
Advice for Young and Aspiring Gymnasts
For young and aspiring gymnasts, Patterson said, “Stick with it, enjoy the journey, and remember there are going to be good days and there are going to be bad days, just like with anything in life. There are things that are going to come easier and there are things that are going to take years.”
“Gymnastics is such a difficult sport with so many different facets to it, and it is going to be about enjoying the journey, having fun along the way, embracing the adverse times and looking for the opportunity to learn in them, move through those, and get to the other side of learning that skill or routine or the next level that you get to,” she elaborated.
Carly's Favorite Sports to Watch and to Play
On her favorite sports to watch and to play, she shared, “We like to watch football; we love it when football season is around. My son is into baseball. Of course, I like watching gymnastics as well. We like watching all sports though. Right now, I just love watching my kids play sports.”
Favorite Music
Regarding her favorite music, she revealed, “Worship music and I love country music. It’s all about country music at our house. I love Maverick City, Zach Bryan, and Phil Wickham.”
On the Stage of her Life
Regarding the title of the current chapter of her life, she disclosed, “Mother, wife, and motivational speaker.” “Honestly, this is a really great chapter,” she admitted.
If Carly Patterson could have a Superpower.....
Patterson listed “flying” and “teleportation” as her superpowers of choice.
“Teleportation would be nice because I could snap my finger and be in different places,” she said.
Success
Regarding her definition of success, Patterson revealed, “Success means finding fulfillment in whatever you are doing. Also, taking care of myself and being happy and healthy.”
To learn more about three-time Olympic medalist Carly Patterson, follow her on Instagram.
Photo Courtesy of Carly Patterson