By Diana Ly, SDA Media Relations Student Assistant
Anne Kuhm is just like every other college student; if all other students had Olympian and World Team Member listed under accomplishments on their applications.
The Brumath, France native recently moved across the ocean leaving everything she has ever known: her family, her gym, and longtime coaches to continue her collegiate career at Arizona State University.
Making an Impact
Competing in high-pressure situations is the norm for Kuhm.
As a member of the French national team since 2009, she has competed in World and European Championships including the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. Kuhm's participation in the 2012 (bronze medal earned) and 2016 Olympic Test Event helped France qualify as a full team to both Olympic Games.
Kuhm served as an international team member in the 2012 London Olympics for France, who finished in 11th place. She also was selected as a reserve for the all-around final. Kuhm notes she didn't quite grasp the gravity of the outing, "I was really young and did not really realize that I was competing at the Olympic games."
In 2016, Kuhm served as an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where Team France maintained its 11th place finish in the team finals. Despite not competing Kuhm remained an important member of the squad, "I knew exactly what to expect and even if I was not on the team (alternate), I was able to help and guide the other girls."
The Rio Olympic games ultimately marked the last time fans would see Kuhm on the international stage, as she embarks on a new journey as a Sun Devil.
Kuhm, who ended her elite career in May 2017 said, "I didn't really think about it before, I had the opportunity to come to ASU and decided to end my elite career in France."
Kuhm comes to ASU with two years of eligibility after spending her first two years of college at University of Paris-Dauphine, while training the 2016 Olympic Games. With a plethora of notable accomplishments under her belt, Kuhm is looking to make a major impact for the Gym Devils in 2018.
A 'culture change'
The decision to live far away from home did not have much of an effect on Kuhm, since she lived away from home at an early age due to her elite training.
"I was away from home since I was 11 years old because I was not training in the city where I lived. It was hard to live away from France, but once I got here (United States), everyone helped me and was really nice."
The sport of gymnastics is ultimately much bigger in America than it is in Western Europe. Collegiate gymnastics is uncommon overseas, with many gymnasts ending their careers at 18 years old and continuing their education at universities.
While in France Kuhm prepped at INSEP, a performance gymnastics club, and spent the majority of her international elite career training and competing with Éric and Cécile Demay.
In 2011, Kuhm completed an internship in the United States at the famous Champions Center in Houston, Texas. At the end of the course, she participated in the WOGA Classic (home of Olympic champions, Nastia Liukin and Madison Kocian), where she finished 7th in the Junior division and led her team to a silver medal.
Kuhm mentioned the "team aspect" as one of the reasons she decided to go the collegiate route and compete in NCAA gymnastics.
"When I saw the American team at the Olympic games, they had a very good team atmosphere. It was getting hard to do gymnastics and complete my studies in France. If I stayed in France, I would have to stop gymnastics. I found out that NCAA gymnastics would be the best solution for me to continue my gymnastics."
During the recruiting process, Kuhm took the initiative to contact the ASU gymnastics staff and the rest is history. She said, "I sent an email to the coaches and talked to them via email throughout the process."
A smooth transition
Outside the gym, Kuhm said the transition to college has been relatively easy, "We are really a close group, which has been really helpful. Everybody is always here for you and if you have a problem, people are willing to talk to you and help you find a solution."
She's currently majoring in Liberal Studies. Like any college student, she enjoys reading, shopping, and hanging out with her friends from the Sun Devils gymnastics team.
Kuhm is a great addition to a vastly improved ASU team that returns 22 routines from a squad that was 8th place at the Pac 12 Championships. Coach Jay Santos said, "she has beautiful artistry, a high skill level, and we know she will do great things in NCAA gymnastics." In addition, Santos said that he and the staff are "beyond thrilled that she (Kuhm) is coming to ASU to finish her career."
Anne Kuhm is just like every other college student; if all other students had Olympian and World Team Member listed under accomplishments on their applications.
The Brumath, France native recently moved across the ocean leaving everything she has ever known: her family, her gym, and longtime coaches to continue her collegiate career at Arizona State University.
Making an Impact
Competing in high-pressure situations is the norm for Kuhm.
As a member of the French national team since 2009, she has competed in World and European Championships including the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. Kuhm's participation in the 2012 (bronze medal earned) and 2016 Olympic Test Event helped France qualify as a full team to both Olympic Games.
Kuhm served as an international team member in the 2012 London Olympics for France, who finished in 11th place. She also was selected as a reserve for the all-around final. Kuhm notes she didn't quite grasp the gravity of the outing, "I was really young and did not really realize that I was competing at the Olympic games."
In 2016, Kuhm served as an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where Team France maintained its 11th place finish in the team finals. Despite not competing Kuhm remained an important member of the squad, "I knew exactly what to expect and even if I was not on the team (alternate), I was able to help and guide the other girls."
The Rio Olympic games ultimately marked the last time fans would see Kuhm on the international stage, as she embarks on a new journey as a Sun Devil.
Kuhm, who ended her elite career in May 2017 said, "I didn't really think about it before, I had the opportunity to come to ASU and decided to end my elite career in France."
Kuhm comes to ASU with two years of eligibility after spending her first two years of college at University of Paris-Dauphine, while training the 2016 Olympic Games. With a plethora of notable accomplishments under her belt, Kuhm is looking to make a major impact for the Gym Devils in 2018.
A 'culture change'
The decision to live far away from home did not have much of an effect on Kuhm, since she lived away from home at an early age due to her elite training.
"I was away from home since I was 11 years old because I was not training in the city where I lived. It was hard to live away from France, but once I got here (United States), everyone helped me and was really nice."
The sport of gymnastics is ultimately much bigger in America than it is in Western Europe. Collegiate gymnastics is uncommon overseas, with many gymnasts ending their careers at 18 years old and continuing their education at universities.
While in France Kuhm prepped at INSEP, a performance gymnastics club, and spent the majority of her international elite career training and competing with Éric and Cécile Demay.
In 2011, Kuhm completed an internship in the United States at the famous Champions Center in Houston, Texas. At the end of the course, she participated in the WOGA Classic (home of Olympic champions, Nastia Liukin and Madison Kocian), where she finished 7th in the Junior division and led her team to a silver medal.
Kuhm mentioned the "team aspect" as one of the reasons she decided to go the collegiate route and compete in NCAA gymnastics.
"When I saw the American team at the Olympic games, they had a very good team atmosphere. It was getting hard to do gymnastics and complete my studies in France. If I stayed in France, I would have to stop gymnastics. I found out that NCAA gymnastics would be the best solution for me to continue my gymnastics."
During the recruiting process, Kuhm took the initiative to contact the ASU gymnastics staff and the rest is history. She said, "I sent an email to the coaches and talked to them via email throughout the process."
A smooth transition
Outside the gym, Kuhm said the transition to college has been relatively easy, "We are really a close group, which has been really helpful. Everybody is always here for you and if you have a problem, people are willing to talk to you and help you find a solution."
She's currently majoring in Liberal Studies. Like any college student, she enjoys reading, shopping, and hanging out with her friends from the Sun Devils gymnastics team.
Kuhm is a great addition to a vastly improved ASU team that returns 22 routines from a squad that was 8th place at the Pac 12 Championships. Coach Jay Santos said, "she has beautiful artistry, a high skill level, and we know she will do great things in NCAA gymnastics." In addition, Santos said that he and the staff are "beyond thrilled that she (Kuhm) is coming to ASU to finish her career."