Rachel Slocum- Gymnastics

Hello again everyone! This week I got to sit down with the one and only Rachel Slocum. She's a senior on the gymnastics team and is always a thrill to talk to.

-Hope you enjoy learning about a day in the life of her!

Rachel Slocum

If you've ever been to a Gator Gymnastics meet in the O'Dome, or any Gator meet for that matter, I can guarantee you have seen Rachel Slocum. 

People have referred to her as, "the dancing girl" and boy does she do this title justice. Slocum enjoys keeping things light by dancing at any chance she has. She says this helps to take the pressure off of her and the rest of the team while competing. She's known for her dabs and most recently, her signature fish on a hook move. You'll have to make it to a meet or watch one live to fully appreciate this one. 

Slocum transferred to The University of Florida after spending her freshman and sophomore years at Eastern Michigan University. A head coaching change at Eastern Michigan left her with the opportunity to look at other schools.

The summer after her sophomore season, Slocum took a visit to UF and was offered a spot on the team for her last two years. Nobody on the team was on campus during her visit but she fell in love with the campus and coaches and decided to take a leap of faith. 

One year after her leap of faith and you can still find Slocum leaping through her day-to day life. 

Monday's with Rachel

6:15 am- Alarm goes off to be at morning strength and conditioning.

6:45- Arrive at the UF Football stadium weight room. Not a minute later because at UF, 15 mins early is considered to be on time. 

7:00-7:45- Team weight workout. 

7:45- Gets breakfast at Grab and Go which is a fueling station with a variety of healthy choices.

8:00-9:00- Nap time on the couch in the team locker room. 

9:00-11:15- A few things for Slocum to do: 

-Plan out her week in her planner (yes, every class is color coded). 

-Motivational Monday quotes. Slocum looks up a quote for all teammates, managers and coaches, 21 total! She hangs everyones quote on their locker. 

11:30- Lunch time, back to Grab and Go Slocum goes. She eats there and chats with other athletes eating as well. 

1:30 pm-- Practice starts but for Slocum... 

1:55-3:00- ...Methods and Materials for Health Education class. 

3:00-5:00- Rush to the O'Dome to get practice done. 

5:00-5:20- Treatment with athletic trainer after practice.

5:20-5:30- Hop in the ice tank to be sure her body feels good for practice on Tuesday.

5:30- Ride scooter home from campus with helmet on and all.

5:45-6:30- Shower, make dinner and relax a little.

7:00-9:00- Graduate School tutoring prep at the student-athlete academic center.

9:15- Get back home and work on unfinished homework.

11:30- Off to bed to get ready for the rest of the week. 

Just one more semester with this busy schedule and then Slocum plans to become the gymnastics team manager while she goes to graduate school.

Once she walks across the stage with her masters degree in Sports Management, Slocum hopes to leap right into the Assistant to the Head Coach position here at UF.

Talk to you soon!

-Cheney