A Successful Package – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Jan. 2, 2000
Ohio State gymnast Raj Bhavsar is proof that good things come in small packages. The 5-foot freshman made quite a statement at the Buckeyes’ first intersquad competition when he and fellow freshman Sarah Spring won the mixed pairs championships. The pair defeated returning letterwinners Jamie Natalie and Amanda Allen. The Ohio State men’s gymnastics team finished second in the NCAA last season, so winning the competition was very exciting for Bhavsar.
“It was like a practice meet to get into the right mode for the season,” he said. “It was cool to win because I don’t think two freshman have ever won it. We had the typical freshman stereotype and we went out and proved them wrong.”
The Houston native started gymnastics when he was three years old and developed a love for sports in general.
“I played all kinds of sports when I was growing up, like karate, swimming and baseball,” he said. “I was thirteen when my gymnastics coach told me I had a gift for gymnastics because of my size and strength. That is when I stopped the other sports and focused on gymnastics.”
Bhavsar focused on gymnastics and trained at the Cypress Academy and developed a special knack for a specific event.
“I love the rings,” he said. “Ever since I was young I’ve been naturally good at it. It is typically a weak point for a lot of gymnasts and the fact that I can do it gives me a little bit of an edge over them.”
Bhavsar is no stranger to success. In addition to being a six-time Texas State Champion he was a two-time National Champion in the 16-18 age group and the 1997 National Champion in the 14-15 age group. He was also a two-year Junior National Team member. His involvement in junior nationals was very instrumental in his success.
“The junior nationals has probably been the greatest thing for me,” he said. “It allowed me to rise through the ranks of gymnasts. About five years back I was a no name gymnast, but by US Championships of 1997 I pulled myself together and I won that year, and the next year.” More recently, he competed in the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg where he placed seventh in floor exercise and pommel horse.
Ohio State gymnastics has experienced success in recent years with the likes of four-time national champion Blaine Wilson competing for the scarlet and gray. Before stepping foot on the mat in his first intercollegiate meet, Bhavsar has already accomplished a feat even Wilson couldn’t, he qualified for the U.S. senior championships before ever starting college.
Bhavsar brings a certain fire and excitement with him to Ohio State. He radiates positive energy and Ohio State head coach Miles Avery is very happy to have Bhavsar at Ohio State.
“I think that with Raj already competing in the senior ranks he will get stronger and he’s going to get a lot better,” Avery said. “There’s no telling what he can do.”
Assistant coach Arnold Kvetenadze agreed that Bhavsar’s potential is unlimited.
“He’s a unique gymnast because of his size, coordination, strength and with so much potential and natural talent,” Kvetenadze said. “He is very talented but he is still young and it is important to keep things in perspective for him.”
His routines still need to be developed and made to fit his strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “We hope Raj will make the Olympics but there is a very limited amount of time to make the 2000 Sidney team. We are working more toward the following Olympics.”
Bhavsar knows making the Olympic squad is going to be a challenge but his experience with senior nationals and the new level of competition it brings with it will help prepare him.
One of Bhavsar’s favorite feelings is after he sticks a landing and knows he did the routine perfectly.
“Whenever you hit a set, it’s probably the best feeling in the whole world,” he said. “If it’s flawless, you know you did everything in your capability to do that routine the best you could. And when you land that dismount and salute the judges, it even impresses yourself.”
His experiences in junior nationals helped him lose the jitters that come with performing for large crowds.
“I helped me prepare to take my routines to the next level,” he said. “Once you aren’t nervous you can focus on fixing the little things. You’ve been the person people are trying to beat, the guy on top. You learn how to deal with an immense amount of pressure.”
Bhavsar chose to attend Ohio State because of the rich tradition and success of Ohio State gymnastics. He explained he had two choices in front of him after high school, either attend Ohio State or train at the Olympic training center.
“I had a lot of advice from the guys at the Olympic training center,” he said. “They told me I could get the same training at Ohio State as I would receive there. I decided to get an education in addition to my training and I really like psychology. I am leaning towards majoring in the medical field eventually.”
Besides going to class, training for Ohio State and the senior national team, Bhavsar does find time for himself. Time is very limited but he likes to listen to music, go to dance clubs, work on the Internet on his computer and just try to take things apart and try to put them together.
“I am really just a typical college kid,” he said.
Bhavsar knows one thing that comes with dedicating yourself to a sport is sacrifice. Looking back on his career to this point he said he has no regrets and only looks to the future.
“Sacrifice is the name of the game,” he said. “You make those sacrifices and everybody knows that they payoff in the end. Hopefully it hasn’t already paid itself off and there’s more to come. All I can do is continue to train hard and do my best.”
