Sunday, August 18, 2002
Five questions with DJ Bucher
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The third time was the charm for DJ Bucher last week. The Mason native qualified for the U.S. Senior Men's Gymnastics Team at Cleveland after twice finishing one place shy of making the team. Bucher's accomplishment was the first step toward his goal of qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Bucher, who is working as a counselor at Kids First Sports Center this summer, talked to Enquirer reporter Gary Estwick this week.
Q: What's the weirdest thing you've done with your gymnastic abilities?
“At school dances, I always like to get out there and do some tumbling for everybody, just to show off a bit. One time (in class), I did a backflip off of a desk. That's about as crazy as I get.”
Q: Because of your sport, you spend a lot of time traveling. Tell me about an offbeat experience you've had.
“At my first championships in Sacramento in 1999, my coach was driving us to practice and we got lost. And there was a gravel driveway that he tried to turn around in. It was downhill pretty much, and we were in an Astro van. He went to turn around, and the van slid backward and got stuck. We were stuck there for like two hours. We almost slid into the ditch trying to get it out. We showed up to practice, like, three hours late. It was 90 degrees out there, and we were tired by the time we got there. He was so mad at himself, and I thought it was so funny.”
Q: Can you recognize familiar voices while you compete?
If somebody was yelling my name up in the stands, I wouldn't hear it. I always try to listen to what my coaches are telling me so I can try to correct something. They are the only ones I really listen for until I'm sitting in my chair resting for the next event. Then, everything else comes back.”
Q: Can you picture your life without gymnastics?
“I can picture it, being able to hang out with friends and do whatever. But I always seem to want to come back to it. I can't imagine what life is like without it. I don't know if I could handle all the free time. I wouldn't know what to do.”
Q: Do you plan to stay with the sport after you retire?
“I'm hoping to go in a different path. I want to do something with cars. Import cars, after-market parts for 'em. I'm really into that. The body kits, the wheels and wings, all that modification stuff. I'm hoping to get my own business. I've put in a lot of stereos. I put a body kit on my CRX, an exhaust system, neon lights. If I'm not in here, I'm probably at home working on my car.”
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Five questions with DJ Bucher
