Ava Aslinia, 12
Why did you choose this sport?
“I already fenced épée. I feel like it’s very cool — you could do [it as] a team or individually.”
What made you think four years is enough to become a professional?
“I was overestimating my feasibility, but in an ideal world, just lock in, get on that grind. If I practiced every day for 10 hours, I could do it.”
If you could borrow the skills of a current Olympic athlete, who would it be?
“I would be Simone Biles. I would do flips — well, I think that’s against the rules [of fencing]. I think that could help push my score forward.”
Favorite Olympic meme or moment?
“It’s probably the fencers when they’re just screaming once they get their point — there is this look of happiness and mild hostility.”
Josh Snitz, 9
Why did you choose this sport?
“[Golf] is the only sport I really do much outside of school — [I’ve been golfing] since second grade.”
What made you think four years is enough to become a professional?
“I’m already good enough to be able to play the game, so I’m hoping four years is enough. As a golfer, normally [I] get at par or one or maybe two above.”
What skills are needed for the sport?
“I’d say being able to get under par consistently for every hole is pretty good. Putting, driving and chipping are all really important.”
Favorite Olympic meme or moment?
“When they’re neck-in-neck [in the 100-meter dash] finish. That was an amazing one.”
Why did you choose this sport?
“I’ve played flag football since freshman year. It’s going to be in the next Olympics, and I knew it hadn’t been there. Last year, I got the opportunity to play on the National winning [flag football] team, so I would travel with them.”
What skills are needed for the sport?
“Paying attention and being detail-oriented. You kind of need to be smart; you need to know what’s going on.”
Favorite Olympic meme or moment?
“My favorite part is field events. So for them, since they throw it so far, there’s this little car that brings back the discs, shots and javs. Watching that little car zooming around and go back and forth with the implements is super funny for me.”
