Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championships on April 16, 2026 ,
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Gymnastics
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The University of Utah Athletics
NCAA.com: Higher Education
3/18/2010 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 18, 2010
By Amy Farnum
NCAA.com
Utah senior gymnast Daria Bijak has turned lots of heads since arriving in Salt Lake City four years ago, and she's hoping to keep doing just that as her collegiate career winds down over the next few weeks.
One of just a handful of international gymnasts competing in NCAA gymnastics, Bijak hails from Cologne, Germany, and became know to the Utes' coaching staff while she was a member of the German National Team. Co-head coaches Greg and Megan Marsden have had several international gymnasts over the years, including two others from Germany.
Several years ago, the Marsdens caught their first glimpse of Bijak while the German National Team was training in Utah's gym before the squad made its' way to Los Angeles for the World Championships. Over time, they contacted Bijak to gauge her interest in going to school in Utah. Bijak was intrigued with the idea of studying while still being able to compete - something that athletes cannot do in Europe.
"We don't have something like this in Europe," said Bijak. "It is something I never dreamed of because I had never heard of it. It's something I will never forget."
"She's brought influences of the type of program she came through, the difference in her national team compared to the United States, and then how she was raised," said Megan Marsden. "Greg and I both feel like that's a positive for our American athletes to rub shoulders closely with somebody who has grown up in a different part of the world under different circumstances. It can never hurt to open up others' eyes a little bit."
Bijak's life experience was not only unique, but also her gymnastics style.
"Daria has brought a very unusual style of gymnastics to the team," said Marsden. "She would be considered unusual anywhere. She's very powerful and explosive and approaches her gymnastics more how male gymnasts compete - high-flying, big, aggressive and gutsy."
"When I came here as a freshman, everyone told me how my gymnastics was different - more European," said Bijak. "It's just my style. My skills are very powerful and I tumble high. I think that is what's different about me and now that I'm a senior the judges have gotten used to seeing it and reward me more for it now."
Bijak, a six-time All-American who also competed in the 2008 Olympics for Germany, is known for her first tumbling pass on floor, which is a handspring double front, punch front, and she is also the only current NCAA gymnast - and one of only a few in the world -- that does a handspring front layout vault.
"On floor exercise, everybody stops to watch Daria when she opens up with her first pass which is a handspring double-front, punch front," said Marsden. "She does it easily, she does it well, and anyone who knows gymnastics knows how difficult that pass is. Her go-for-it, explosive style allows her to do that pass."
Last week in Utah's quad-meet victory over nationally-ranked Oregon State, Penn State and Southern Utah, Bijak stuck the tough vault landing, scoring a 9.90 in the event en route to a career-high 39.575 as she claimed her fifth all-around title of the season.
"It's really difficult to stick it," said Bijak. "It's happened a couple times in my career, but I had never done it at the Huntsman Center in front of our fans. It had always been one of my biggest goals - I wanted to stick it in front of 15,000 people."
Bijak, who also notched a career-best 9.95 on bars last weekend, attributes her recent big scores to being able to relax a bit more during competition.
"My approach this year is totally different," said Bijak. "The past three years, I was just trying to get through the meet. I was still having fun, but I didn't have the mindset that it was almost over. I want to be the best I can be right now because I will never have the chance again. I've figured out that it doesn't work out when I want it too badly. I need to enjoy it, no matter how I do."
"I think the team is calling upon her a little bit more in a leadership role, and that is not only going to help our team, but help Daria for her focus to shift from herself to the group," said Marsden. "If her focus if more group-oriented, she may find herself having more big scores like she did last Friday."
The quad-meet victory last week came at a crucial time as the post-season is rapidly approaching, and the Utes head to fifth-ranked Florida for an important road meet on March 19. Florida will also host the NCAA Championships on April 22-24, so the meet will also serve as a learning experience.
"I think we're really motivated (after last week's win) and we gained confidence and know we can go to Florida and compete against them," said Bijak.
"We're building, and feel better about where we are at the moment and hope to continue that snowball effect with more confidence in the group and more great performances," said Marsden. "Especially on the road - this week is important because it is also where national championships are a few weeks later. We're aware we have to qualify, but are hoping we will be there. On Friday, we'd like to perform well and take note of the little things so when we come back we know we can do it."
Utah closes out the regular season with a home meet against BYU on March 26 before hosting one of six NCAA regionals on April 10.
Gymnastics Media Availability | Pre-NCAA Championships
Wednesday, April 15
Utah: 197.500 | Ala.: 197.225 | OSU: 196.375 | DU: 195.950 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Saturday, April 04
Utah: 197.400 vs. UCLA: 197.850 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Utah: 197.650 vs. BYU: 196.550, West Virginia: 195.300 | Gymnastics Post-Meet Press Conference
Sunday, March 08