Hall of Honor Q&A with Elise Ray
10/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Oct. 18, 2015
Former women's gymnast Elise Ray, a 2005 graduate from the University of Michigan (English), 2000 Olympian, three-time NCAA champion and 14-time All-American, was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletics Hall of Honor on Friday night (Oct. 16). She sat down with MGoBlue.com for a question-and-answer session about her time in Ann Arbor and what she has been doing since.
Q. What does it mean to you to have represented the Block M?
A. When I think of my time at Michigan, and so proudly wearing the block M, I think of being in the gym training hard with my teammates, studying on a campus where you believed you were working towards something great, competing to win, walking through airports hearing a dozen passersby yell "Go Blue!" and being part of something much larger than myself. There is so much tradition, pride and love within the block M, I am so incredibly proud to have worn it. I love it so much I have it tattooed on my ankle.
Q. What does it mean to you to be inducted into the Hall of Honor?
A. I am ecstatic about being inducted! Literally, ecstatic. Gymnastics has never been about awards and accolades for me, it has always been about my love for the sport and the invaluable things it has taught me. I truly mean that. But there's something about being inducted that makes me feel like my whole body of work is being recognized. And to me, that whole body of work encompasses so much happiness, hard work, struggle and growth, both as a gymnast and as a young person, that it's incredibly meaningful. I poured my love for Michigan into athletics, academics and community, I'm honored and humbled to think I made a difference in my time there."
Q. What are your favorite memories from attending U-M?
A. My teammates, watching the field hockey team win their national championship, football Saturdays, traveling as a team, Ann Arbor in the fall, living in a house full of gymnasts and field hockey players, the team winning Big Ten championships every year, deciding to do a fifth year after an injury my junior year, getting our brand new facility, Lisa Haas, my very first practice as a freshman, painting the rock, Stuccis, competing in Cliff Keen and Crisler Arena, winning Mock Rock, Chipatis, studying at a coffee shop on a snowy day, being part of Order of Angell, hearing the crowd cheer and seeing my parents (who have been there through it all -- my rocks) cry at 2005 NCAAs when I finished the very last event of my career.
Q. What life lessons did you learn from your time at Michigan?
A. I came to Michigan straight from a pretty terrible Olympic experience, so when I arrived on campus, I was sour towards gymnastics. But almost instantly, I was shown such support, love, and space to make mistakes, from my new coaches, teammates and friends. I ended up falling madly in love with Michigan, and thus gymnastics again. I'm so incredibly grateful for the path that led me to Michigan. My time at Michigan was so healing and brought me such happiness and growth. It helped form much of who I am today. It's an extremely special place.
Q. What are you doing now in work/life?
A. I live in the beautiful city of Seattle and I love it. I'm the associate head coach at the University of Washington, alongside Joanne Bowers (former assistant coach at Michigan when I was a gymnast). When I'm not working, I'm doing yoga, taking dance class, hanging out with my amazing boyfriend and group of friends, Face Timing with my nephews in Maryland, or just generally being adventurous in the Pacific Northwest.
Q. What advice would you give to current and future U-M gymnasts?
A. You'll get out what you put in. Work hard in the classroom, put in the time to study. Work hard in the gym, you only have a few more years to do this sport that you love so much. Compete your heart out: leave everything you have out on the competition floor every single time you compete. Meet people unlike yourself, go to as many events -- sporting and other -- as possible. Take advantage of all your resources, you'll miss them when you graduate. Take lots of pictures, slow down enough to be in the moment ... these four years will be some of your best and they go by so fast. Understand that you're not invincible. Be grateful. Finally, listen. Even though you think you know everything.
