Air Force Academy

March 11, 2011

Each week, GoAirForceFalcons.com will spotlight a member of the Air Force women’s gymnastics team with an online feature called “Friday Focus”. This week, gymnastics fans can get to know Lisa Wong, the Falcons’ senior from Silver Spring, Md. Click here to get to know Wong outside of the gym.

When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? When I was really little, a teacher, but then it changed to “I don’t know.”

What is one thing that you just can’t live without? Chapstick

If you had $1,000,000, what would you do? Shop, invest, save and donate

What is your favorite vacation spot? The beach, a pretty one

What is the most interesting place you have traveled to? China

What is your ringtone? Usher – DJ Got Us Falling In Love

 Who should play you in your life story? Lucy Liu

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Tough one…I love it all except stuff with coconut and sometimes coffee flavors

Who is your favorite TV character? Snoopy

What is your favorite song for karaoke? Spice Girls - Wannabe

What is something that you are afraid? Insects and a painful death

What was the first CD you ever bought? Spice Girls Spice World

What was your first job? Summer Gymnastics Camp Counselor 

 If you had a theme song, what would it be? Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey – When You Believe; Mariah Carey – Through the Rain, Christina Aguilera - Beautiful

If you could be on any TV show, what would it be? Friends

How many hours of sleep do you need (and now  … how many do you get?) 8…about 6-7

What do you want to do after graduation? Relax and travel!

What is your proudest achievement? 2^nd semester sophomore year in HS: 4.0 and 2^nd AA at Level 9 Eastern National Championships 

What era would you most like to travel to? I like where I am now, for the most part

What is one thing about your hometown that you miss? My friends.  Special shout out to: Francesca, Jenifer, and Juliet.

What is your favorite movie of all-time? The Notebook

Where is your favorite place to relax? The beach, a pretty one

 How did you get started in gymnastics? My mom put me in gymnastics thinking it would help me with public speaking.  Do I understand her correlation of gymnastics competitions and public speaking? No.

What challenge do you find in gymnastics that you don’t find in any other sport? The intense mental toughness needed, precision, accuracy, perfection and show.  And of course being a little crazy to throw flips on a 4 inch wide 4 feet high beam.

“Gymnastics tells you no. All day long. It mocks you over and over again. Telling you you're an idiot. That you're crazy. If you like running full-speed towards a stationary object, vault's for you. If you like pealing pieces of skin the size of quarters of your hands... bars is for you. Because the only thing more fun than rips, is when your rips get rips. It's super sexy. And floor, are you serious, I mean who doesn't want to parade around in a leotard getting wedgies and doing dorky choreography? It's delicious. If you like falling, then gymnastics is the sport for you! You get to fall on your face, your ###, your back, your knees, and your pride! It's a good thing I didn't like falling... I LOVED IT! “ -- Stick It

What do you like best about gymnastics? Getting all prettified, doing well in front of the audience and seeing all of our hard work payoff.

What is your favorite sport besides gymnastics? Rock climbing, shooting pool

Do you have any pre-meet rituals? If it’s an evening meet, I have to get a nap in some time during the day

What is your advice for young gymnasts? Slow and steady wins the race

Describe your personality in two words: Insouciantly focused

Who are the biggest influences in your life and why? My brother because he is smart and cool.  And of course, my mom because there was a very long span where she dictated everything in my life.

How do you balance your athletics, academics and military duties? One thing at a time…

Who is your favorite non-gymnast athlete(s) at the Academy? Merry Miller, Stephan

What is your favorite class? Rock Climbing

Who is your favorite professor/AOC/etc.? Major John Martin

What is your favorite place on the Academy grounds? The Rampart Lodge

What were your first thoughts of the Academy? I’m not going there…

Who are your biggest fans? Larry (RIP), some of my family, and Holland’s parents.

What was your most memorable “welcome to college” moment? Falling out of the top bunk the very first morning of BCT to “Welcome to the Jungle”