Senior Hana Strause, who currently competes with San Mateo Gymnastics, recently committed to Yale University.
Strause’s journey with gymnastics began when she was four years old as her parents signed her up to take classes at the local recreation center. She took classes there for a while, but after attending a summer camp, she was offered the opportunity to join a new pre-development team led by one of her current coaches, Oksana Bystrova.
From there, Strause explored a variety of programs — initially trying the Talent Opportunity Program and eventually settling for the U.S.A. Gymnastics Junior Olympics program.
The JO is one of two gymnastics programs offered nationwide. It consists of levels one through 10 and allows gymnasts to advance at their own pace and compete in multiple levels a year if they choose so.
“When you’re learning, even if you fall, you just have to try again”
Strause began competing at Level 4 in the fall of 2012. She steadily progressed, winning multiple event titles at NorCal State Championships. She later tested out of Level 5 and began competing at Level 7 in 2015.
As a Level 7 gymnast, Strause won first on vault and third on beam at the NorCal State Championships. She went on to win the beam title at Region 1 championships in 2015 and first on floor in 2016. As a Level 9 gymnast, she won titles in vault and floor at regionals, finishing second all around. Since 2019, she has competed at Level 10, the highest nationally.
“I train from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. four times a week,” Strause said. “Then 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and sometimes a private lesson for an hour.”
In addition to training, Strause has to balance different priorities.
“It’s pretty busy,” Strause said. “I have to go to school and do homework and then go to the gym. I go to bed pretty late.”
Fellow sophomore and teammate Eden King agrees that the schedule is incredibly demanding.
“This year, coming to in-person school, [it] has been a little harder to get enough sleep and do my homework and hang out with friends and all that,” King said. “[Hana is] really good about managing her time and just being really productive.”
Gymnastics has taught Strause valuable life skills.
“It’s taught me how to be persistent,” Strause said. “Gymnastics is really hard on your body and you have to work through pain. It’s taught me good time management.”
Training can be both physically and emotionally demanding. One of Strause’s most challenging skills is the triple twist.
“Not a lot of people do [the triple twist on floor],” Strause said. “I’ve pulled a bunch of back muscles doing it. When you’re learning, even if you fall, you just have to try again.”
Strause has to apply that persistence to competitions as well as training. While competing at the Maccabiah Games, the Jewish Olympics, she remembers facing multiple obstacles.
“I got really sick and I was having trouble breathing,” she said. “On my first pass on floor, I fell on my face. It was the worst meet of my life, but I’m proud that I just kept going. I won a bronze on bars, which is [usually] my worst event.”
Part of Strause’s determination to continue the sport comes from support she receives from teammates and friends, like King. Strause and King met for the first time when King joined Strause’s team last year, and recently grew closer.
“She’s very smart … and a really good gymnast,” King said. “Aside from that, she … cracks me up all the time. She’s just a really nice person and I love hanging out with her.”
Strause’s dedication to gymnastics recently allowed her to commit to Yale, one of her first choice schools. The initial process was stressful and challenging.
“I had to email [coaches] and talk to them on the phone,” Strause said. “I’m shy and it was hard to reach out to coaches [I’ve never met], especially during the pandemic.”
Over the summer, Strause toured various colleges, eventually settling on Yale.
“College gymnastics has been a dream of mine since I was little”
“There were two colleges that really fit my personality. Yale was … my top choice,” Strause said. “It was really exciting [and] I was really happy about it.”
Strause looks forward to continuing training in college.
“College gymnastics has been a dream of mine since I was little,” Strause said. “I’m super excited for [it]. I’m definitely competing on beam, floor and … vault. I’m trying to [improve on bars] and I want to compete all-around in college.”
For King, Strause’s dedication to gymnastics and her success are inspiring.
“[She’s] able to continue her gymnastics and academic career at Yale,” King said. “I really look up to her and I hope [to] do the same thing one day.”
