Coming to you live with JaNay Honest. Play by Play!
Q&A with JaNay Honest
In this sports injury Q&A we are going to dive in and get to know the fabulous resilient former UCLA gymnast JaNay Honest. JaNay is originally from Visalia, California. JaNay got her start in gymnastics at age 5 and didn’t look back. She went on to be a top competitor at one of the greatest athletic programs in the country. She competed for UCLA gymnastics from 2015-2018.
Before UCLA, she competed in club gymnastics. JaNay trained at Central California Gymnastics Institute. In 2014 she placed second on floor and all-around at the 2014 Region 1 Championships, where she also qualified for the Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament (J.O. National Championships). At the J.O. National Championships she placed first on vault, silver on floor and bronze all-around. JaNay joined the UCLA gymnastics team as a walk-on. A walk-on athlete is recruited but not given a scholarship. Regardless of scholarship status, if the coach feels the athlete is prepared the walk-on athlete will compete and be held to the same expectations of any other college athlete on the team.
Throughout her career, at UCLA she scored highs of 9.950 on the uneven bars and a 9.925 on the floor. In 2016 she was the PAC-12 uneven bars co-champion, AND in 2018 she helped the Bruins seize the NCAA gymnastics team title! They were led by the highly respected and lovable coach Valorie Kondos Fields.
Before UCLA early on in her career, JaNay had some setbacks that may have doubted her ability to compete at the UCLA gymnastics level. As a young adolescent, JaNay was determined to attend and compete at her dream school, UCLA. I want to share how JaNay’s insane work ethic, self-motivation, consistent positive mindset, and discipline led her to accomplish such great things, despite the injuries and skeptics.
Dr. Lina: How did you feel about being a walk-on?
JaNay Honest: I was excited. Being a walk-on at a Division I school is very competitive. It taught me to continue to believe in myself and know that I am worthy to be here just like anyone else. Coach Val was encouraging and emphasized how essential walk-ons are. It’s a great culture. Plus my last year I earned that scholarship! That was exciting for me!
Dr. Lina: Did you encounter any injuries or fears throughout your gymnastics career?
JaNay Honest: Well, I have a bone condition that I have dealt with since I was 11 years old called Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD). It’s a condition that appears in joints. In my case, it’s my knee joint. My first knee surgery for this was at 13 years old. My second knee surgery was my sophomore year at UCLA (at age 19), and my third surgery was at age 22 post-UCLA gymnastics.
Dr. Lina: Oh wow! Osteochondritis Dissecans is a condition where the bone underneath the cartilage in a joint can separate, due to lack of blood supply. Small lesions (pieces of bone and cartilage) or “loose bodies” can detach and float around inside the joint causing pain, weakness and swelling. It’s common in children and adolescents. The cause is unknown. How did you persevere and come back stronger after each surgery?
JaNay Honest: Painful at times, yes! I think what helped me was remaining positive and staying patient through my recovery process. My coaches and teammates certainly helped during this time. Injuries are not fun, so it’s important to keep yourself surrounded by great and supportive people.
Dr. Lina: What did your rehabilitation process consist of and including the surgeries, what treatment do you think helped the most?
JaNay Honest: My rehab consisted of electrical stimulation (E-stim), ultrasound therapy, Graston and multiple strength and stability exercises. I think the last surgery helped the most. It was my biggest surgery. In my second surgery, they removed a loose body (which helped), but the recent surgery was a cartilage replacement surgery.
Dr. Lina: Gotcha. All of that together makes up an excellent treatment plan. How do you think this sport and injuries made you a better person and an athlete?
JaNay Honest: This sport and those injuries showed me the importance of keeping a positive mindset, spreading positivity and my knowledge to others. It also taught me the importance of PATIENCE. We all want to heal up as fast as possible, but good things take time. You learn a lot about yourself as an individual during that time of reflection, while healing.
Dr. Lina: What’s next for JaNay Honest?
JaNay Honest: I am currently working at a law firm during the week and doing sports broadcasting on the weekends. My goals are to have a future in sports broadcasting. My first gig will be with Pac-12 @ Arizona on January 26th!
Dr. Lina: How did gymnastics prepare you for your career goals?
JaNay Honest: Gymnastics taught me discipline, goal setting, executing goals and teamwork. I think those tools will help me in my future career.
It’s evident that JaNay can tackle whatever comes her way mentally and physically. It was an absolute joy to watch her compete! She’s an amazing dancer as well. I don’t think there is anything this girl will do and not shine! She exhibits all the qualities of a successful individual. She is warm and welcoming, humble, driven, kind and genuine. You don’t come across this combination often. I am so proud of her and I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.
Subscribe to her YouTube channel HERE. You will love it! Also, don’t forget to catch her broadcasting debut as an analyst with Pac-12, for the Cal at Arizona gymnastics competition on January 26th at 3:30 pm PT! It will be on Pac-12 networks. Trust me she is “cooler than the other side of the pillow.” Thanks, JaNay for being a part of Dr. Lina Colleagues and Friends! You’re the bomb.com!