Meet 2017 #RUGym: Polina Poliakova
Dec 16 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With the 2017 Rutgers gymnastics season only 22 days away, it is time to meet the members of the team. The Scarlet Knights are set to host five meets at home during the campaign, starting with a Jan. 7 quad meet at the Livingston Gym and ending with the Big Ten Championships at the RAC on March 18.
Click here for ticket information and here for the promotional schedule.
To continue the "Meet the Team" series, ScarletKnights.com features freshman Polina Poliakova...
Name: Polina Poliakova
Hometown: Norwich, Great Britain
Nickname: Poli/Pol/Po (whatever people decide to call me)
Favorite Olympic Gymnast: Aliya Mustafina
Favorite Pro Athlete: Conor McGregor
Favorite Movies: Blades of Glory, Dodgeball, Zoolander, Drillbit Taylor, We're the Millers
Favorite Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp
Favorite TV Shows: I'm a saddo and don't watch TV
Favorite Foods: Avocado on toast, popcorn and anything with peanut butter
Favorite Animals: Hedgehogs, Cats
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Song Right Now: "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett
Favorite Quote: You are always more than you think
Favorite Class at RU: Psychology
Favorite Campus at RU: Cook-Douglass! It's so beautiful
Bus, Walk or Drive to Class: Bus
Favorite Holiday: Any holiday, I'm very eccentric for doing something that's different to the norm
Favorite Sport Other than Gymnastics: I love watching volleyball and American football (even though I don't understand it) and I've always wanted to try martial arts
Best advice ever given to me: Everything in life is temporary, both the good and the bad. So treasure the good moments and try to not stress about the bad, for all of these will be soon gone.
When I was little I always wanted: generally to travel and explore different places and do something that I enjoy
An artist no one would believe I have on my iPod: I don't think any artist on my iPod is surprising, I like a lot of genres of music and a lot of different artists
If I could have dinner with any celebrity, it would be: Leonardo DiCaprio - I've been in love with him forever
My special talent is: I am bilingual in Russian and English and can kind of do a half-decent American accent
If I could get on a plane and go anywhere, it would be to: Australia or home (Great Britain) to see the people I love
If I could have a superpower, it would be: take away people's pain (I want to go into either psychology or physical therapy as a career, so helping to get rid of people's pain would be my ideal superpower)
My favorite place to eat on campus is: Livingston dining hall
My favorite place to hangout on campus is: Just in our dorms with teammates and friends, it's not really the place that defines a good time, but the company I'm in
What I miss the most about my hometown is: the accents, my friends and family, the food and my cat
If I weren't an athlete, I would be: I think I'd still be in athletics someway or another because I'm someone who gets bored really easily and needs to constantly be active or busy
When at the mall, the first store I go to is: Bath and Body Works, VS, Pacsun or Teavana
My favorite gymnastics memory was: Competing in Germany on behalf of England
I committed to Rutgers over other schools because: I fell in love with the team, the campus and Rutgers gave me the opportunity to pursue a brilliant education, whilst competing at a high level, which universities in Great Britain do not tend to provide due to not having an intercollegiate sporting system
After graduation I hope to: Continue studying for a masters degree in physical therapy or something of the sort
The most influential person in my life is: It's a tie between my mum, who is my biggest inspiration, support base and best friend, as well as Lisa Mason who competed in the Olympics, Worlds and Commonwealth games for GB; is possibly the bravest and toughest person I know, as well as being a very close friend of mine
A pre-meet ritual of mine is to: listen to motivating music as I get ready
What excites me the most about the upcoming season is: competing for the first time as a college gymnast in an amazing team and hosting the Big Ten Championships
My goal for the 2017 season is to: be the best I can possibly be by giving my all to best benefit the team
Players Mentioned
