After an incredible season on Dancing with the Stars, Nastia Liukin reflects on her journey and tells GK what's next. Liukin displayed the same breathtaking grace and poise that crowned her the 2008 Olympic Champion, and though we were sad to see her eliminated, that hasn't slowed her down one bit. Keep reading to see what's up her sleeve this summer.
GK: What was your most memorable moment on Dancing with the Stars?
NL: Performing the Argentine Tango to my 2008 Olympic floor music was definitely a special moment. Not only having my parents in the audience cheering me on, but also my grandparents who flew all the way from Moscow to watch me perform that week. They weren't able to be in Beijing in 2008, so that was a special moment for them.
GK: How do you feel you've grown from being on the show? Explain some of the things you learned about yourself during this season.
NL: From a performance aspect, I learned how to express emotion and feelings through my routines. Throughout my gymnastics career, I never showed any kind of emotion when competing. Playing a different character on the show during Disney Week helped a lot too. That was one of my favorite weeks because I got to dance as Princess Anna from Frozen. I also learned that it’s okay to not be perfect, but to allow myself to be vulnerable show how I'm feeling at different moments.
GK: Which dance was your favorite?
NL: I would have to say either the Argentine Tango or our very last dance on the show, the Viennese Waltz.
GK: Explain a little about how you managed to juggle flying from coast to coast, staying on top of school, and rehearsing for the show.
NL: To be honest, it was definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be. Traveling across the country every week while trying to keep up with midterms, then final exams, and remembering every dance was a little stressful. However, this was also a great lesson in time management! I made sure to always have my school work with me, so when I was flying or taking a half hour break I was able to catch up on school.
GK: In a previous interview, you stated you were hoping to find some inspiration from the costumes on Dancing with the Stars for your next GK leotard collection. Were there any costumes you wanted to incorporate into your signature leotard line? If so, which ones?
NL: We worked with amazing people on the show, including the costume department. The creativity they had week after week was just incredible. I will definitely take a look back at all of my costumes to see which one I could try to incorporate into my GK Gymnastics Signature Leotard Collection. Suggestions are always welcome!
GK: What’s next for you?
NL: I’m on my way back to NYC to take my final exams at NYU for the semester. Then, I’m going to be the Grand Marshal at the Indy 500 this weekend. This summer I’ll be traveling across the country for The Shine Tour. (Check out www.theshinetour.org for all the cities I will be traveling to and how to register!) I have also started my own agency, called The Shine Agency. With my Sports Management degree, I plan on being an agent.
Congratulastions Nastia Liukin on your remarkable achievements throughout this year. We look forward to seeing your Dancing with the Stars design inspirations come to life in your GK gymnastics leotard line.
Click here to shop Nastia Liukins' Signature Leotard Collection, and stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see what's next for Nastia.
GK. Choice Of Champions.