Air Force Academy

Feb. 4, 2011

Beginning on Friday, Feb. 4, GoAirForceFalcons.com will spotlight a member of the Air Force women's gymnastics team with a new online feature called "Friday Focus". This week, gymnastics fans can get to know Samantha Jones, a junior from Sewell, N.J. Jones returned to the Falcons' program this year, after being forced to sit out her sophomore season with an injury. Click here to get to know Jones outside of the gym.

When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Physical Therapist

What is one thing that you just can't live without? My phone

If you had $1,000,000, what would you do? Travel around the world

What is your favorite vacation spot? Nice, France

What is the most interesting place you have traveled to? Nice, France

What is your ringtone? Breathe - Michelle Branch

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mint Chocolate Chip

What is your favorite song for karaoke? Ain't No Mountain High Enough

What is something that you are afraid? Clowns

What was the first CD you ever bought? Shania Twain

What was your first job? Gymnastics Camp Counselor

How many hours of sleep do you need (and now ... how many do you get?) 8, 6

What sports teams do you follow? Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, and Philadelphia Flyers

What do you want to do after graduation? Go to PT school

What is your proudest achievement? Getting into the Academy

What era would you most like to travel to? Relive the 90s as a teenager

What is one thing about your hometown that you miss?  Wawa

What is your favorite movie of all-time?  Enough

Where is your favorite place to relax? The beach

How did you get started in gymnastics? A gymnastics birthday party when I was 2 years old

What challenge do you find in gymnastics that you don't find in any other sport? It is an individual but team sport, you can yell and scream to encourage a teammate but you can't be right there next to them on a playing field helping them out like most sports

What do you like best about gymnastics? I love the adrenaline rush you get from your teammates and the crowd during a competition

What is your favorite sport besides gymnastics? Soccer

What is your advice for young gymnasts? To never give in when someone tells you that you're not good enough, always push yourself to be the best you can be

Who are the biggest influences in your life and why? My family and friends. My parents taught me to be who I am today, my grandfathers encouraged me to see what the academy was all about, and my brothers and friends are my biggest supporters

How do you balance your athletics, academics and military duties? Just try to keep myself motivated, of course you need time to yourself every now and then but there are some sacrifices any athlete makes to do what they love, so to make the best out of what you have to get done and to keep pushing through the work is the best way I have come across.

What is your favorite class? Social Psychology

Who is your favorite professor/AOC/etc.? Lt. Col McArthur

What were your first thoughts of the Academy? I was overwhelmed and was not sure how I would get through this, but quickly realized my teammates would be there for me through it all

Who are your biggest fans? Friends and Family, my old teammates from back home

What was your most memorable "welcome to college" moment? The first time we marched out as a team my freshmen year, wearing the AF gymnastics uniform and representing the school I go to.