"When I realized I might have to step up this weekend, I had to mentally put myself in that position really quickly," Barros said. "... I made sure I was in the best mental space possible and just trusted my training that I did have."
"I think it really bodes well and just showed people the type of competitor she is, the type of athlete she is and the type of teammate she is," McDonald said."
"This whole year has just looked completely different for her," she said. "She's fired up, she's training really hard, she's training really confidently and aggressively, and we really felt like this could really be her breakout year."
Sydney Barros entered the lineup for UCLA unexpectedly because several teammates were ill, despite recovering from a prior ACL injury and limited prior competition. Barros delivered career-high scores of 9.9 on the uneven bars and 9.9 on floor, contributing strongly to the team rotation. Barros focused on rapid mental preparation and trusted her training to perform under sudden pressure. Coaching staff noted her strong execution, confidence, and aggressive training this year. Barros had previously been limited to one event earlier in the season while rebuilding confidence and returning to full competition.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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