Beikmann seeks national title

After a disappointing fifth place finish at his final NCAA championships earlier this year, gymnast Kit Beikmann will be seeking to regain some of his honor at the Visa Championships in Dallas, Texas .
The Visa Championships, which begin Wednesday, will determine the U.S. national team and U.S. champions. Among the competing athletes are eight members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team .
“The nice thing about this meet is it’s pretty much a repeat of NCAA’s so there’s some lost pride to get back,” Beikmann said.
Beikmann was the Big Ten champion on pommel horse in 2007 and the runner-up in both 2008 and 2009. He will be competing in the same event this week, beginning preliminary competition on Wednesday.
Though this is Beikmann’s first time competing at the Visa Championships, he said he is less nervous for this meet than a typical college meet, as the pressures are more focused on himself and not his team.
“What always made me nervous in college was the fact that the team depends on you, and with my score, if I messed up I would hurt the team pretty bad,” Beikmann said. “At this meet, if I were to mess up or anything, there’s really no pressure.”
Minnesota men’s head coach Mike Burns said he is confident of Beikmann’s performance this week because of the impressive practices he’s been putting in recently.
“This past week he’s really honed in on this level of excellence that’s really been fun to watch,” Burns said. “It’s really boosted his confidence level, and he can rely on this confidence and preparation.”
Beikmann came to the Gophers gymnastics program as a walk-on, and ended his career as a Big Ten Champion, a two time All-American, and the recipient of the team’s Most Outstanding Career Award in 2009.
“As far as what he did as an athlete, he’s a guy with a lot of the right stuff,” Burns said. “He’s really the essence of college gymnastics. He’s kind of the posterboy of hard work and dedication.”
Beikmann’s teammates also recognize his hard work.
“The reason why Kit’s made it to be so successful is because year after year he’s consistently the hardest working person in the gym,” junior teammate Michael Paulus said. “As far as I know, in the four years he’s been here, he’s never missed even an optional practice.”
Senior gymnast Thomas O’Brien said Beikmann’s work ethic and passion for the sport made him a good team leader his senior year when he served as a co-captain with teammate Aaron Fortunato.
“Kit was a really good person to practice with especially doing pommel horse because we always challenged each other,” O’brien said. “He was great motivation when you’re working out.”
Joining Beikmann at Visa Championships is former Minnesota teammate Guillermo Alvarez , who will be taking part in the all-around competition.
“It would be real intimidating to go there without anyone,” Beikmann said. “It’s cool to have Guillermo competing with me, and it makes it a little easier to go somewhere else. He’s been a familiar face forever.”
The two former Gophers left for Texas on Monday to prepare for competition, Beikmann with specific goals already in mind.
“My bottom level goal is just to qualify to second day, but if I do, if I hit, there’s a chance that I can win it,” Beikmann said.
Second-day competition for the men will be held on Friday.A good second-day performance could earn Beikmann a spot on the U.S. Men’s Team for the 2009 World Championships, which will be held in London this October.