Husker Q-n-A: Clara Colombo

Clara Colombo, a freshman on the Nebraska women's gymnastics team, is the first Italian gymnast to compete in NCAA competition. A native of Caravaggio, Colombo trained at Juventus Mova Melzo in Melzo, Italy. She is part of the Huskers' lineup for the uneven bars and scored a 9.825 in Nebraska's last meet, a 197.100-196.550 victory at Michigan State. Colombo and the No. 17 Huskers return to action Thursday with a 6 p.m. home dual with No. 8 Michigan. She visited with Brian Rosenthal of Huskers.com about her decision to come to Nebraska and her experiences in her first season.
 
BR: How did you discover you were the first Italian gymnast to compete in NCAA competition?
Clara: "In Italy it's not a big thing. We don't have college sports. It was new for everybody, for me. I found out because Italy is a small country and gymnastics is not that popular. I think college sports, it's a thing anybody could do, and it's so fun. It gives you the opportunity to study but at the same time do the sport that you love. I really hope somebody else from Italy is going to take this path."
 
BR: How did you first become in contact with Nebraska, and why did you choose to come here?
Clara: "It happened really fast. I started my recruiting like in January 2019, so it was really fast. This opportunity came to me thanks to one of my friends who competed in NCAA but she played tennis. I started getting in touch with some of the coaches all around the U.S.A., and I got in touch with Heather Brink, and she wanted to come to Italy and see me. She came to my gym in May, and she watched me practice. I committed in June, I left Italy in August and here I am."
 
BR: What other opportunities did you consider?
Clara: "If I was going to stay in Italy, I would have to move for college, and I don't know if would've had to stop gymnastics. College in Italy, it doesn't help you with your sport. It's like two different things. I'm really happy I'm here and can do both."
 
BR: How did you first get involved with gymnastics?
Clara: "My dad is a coach and my dad was a gymnast, and he was my first coach. He was for a while on the national team. So that's probably why I got into gymnastics. And my sister and my brother, both of them did gymnastics. Basically my whole family is into gymnastics."
 
BR: What were your first impressions of Nebraska and Lincoln?
Clara: "It was a little hard at first, getting everything together, but when I got here, everyone was so welcoming and really wanted to help me. That was my first impression. Everybody was like, 'Hey, if you need anything we're here.' And they're still like that. They're really welcoming."
 
BR: If you were to ever take your teammates to Italy, what would you be sure to show them or have them do?
Clara: "First I'm going to bring all of them to a restaurant and I'm going to let them try all the Italian food because I think that is the thing I miss the most. Then I'd probably take them to one of the big cities, like Rome or Venice."
 
BR: You've been in the uneven bars lineup. Is that your main event, or will you expand and eventually do others?
Clara: "I practice all the events, but right now I practice more bars and beam because I had some issues with my back. So right now on floor and vault I'm not doing routines but I'm still practicing them."
 
BR: What's your most challenging event?
Clara: "I guess beam because I need a lot of focus to do it. But I like it."
 
BR: What have you learned about gymnastics on the collegiate level? How is it different than what you've been used to doing?
Clara: "Having an opportunity to practice here and compete here made me realize gymnastics is not all about doing your routine and getting your score. It's also about having fun and enjoying what you're doing and doing it for yourself. Because like right now, we're getting experienced together and competing together. It's something that it's more than just sports. But it's a good feeling. I've never experienced a feeling like it. It's crazy how they're supportive and how we support each other. That's the thing that's impressed me the most."
 
BR: What impressed you about Heather when you first met her?
Clara: "She was very kind to me. She was talking about Nebraska as a family, so that made me think about it and is probably why I chose Nebraska."
 
BR: What are you studying, and what are you considering doing after gymnastics?
Clara: "My goal is to become a doctor. I'm still figuring out what kind of doctor, but my dream is being a surgeon. I'm still undeclared but I'll want to do pre-med."
 
BR: What other sports do you enjoy?
Clara: "I like diving and rhythmic gymnastics. I did swimming when I was a kid but I just like watching diving."
 
Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.