Anastacia

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

It gives her the success and confidence to try new things, fly high, and sometimes fail. She has learned to always try her best and win or lose graciously. She loves the freedom of throwing new skills, literally flying through the air, and expressing herself both inside the gym and on the competition floor. She loves to travel, train, compete, and keep herself healthy through her sport.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

Anastacia is inspired by both her father, Patrick O'Connell Jr., and Katelyn Ohashi. Her father has worked so hard to keep her sister and her safe, healthy, and happy after her mother's passing as well as setting a great example of resilience in his own health problems. She also looks up to Katelyn Ohashi who stood up to the systematic health/nutritional problems in Elite and Olympic gymnastics and took almost 9 years off to return to Elite gymnastics this summer.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

Anastacia hit an all time low in spring of 2024 when her mother passed. She started to back peddle and ended up losing skills because she didn't know how to handle to grief of loss. A coach opened her eyes to the family she had at the gym and Anastacia grabbed on with both hands. She has excelled forward two levels in the last two years faster than even her coaches thought possible and has been actively working on helping herself and others with mental health issues in the gym and in school.