Editor’s note: After taking a year off from gymnastics, freshman Brianna Springer entered as Denver’s top newcomer. The Arvada native is also engaged to U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Alexander “Sasha” Artemev.

Springer is not a typical freshman student-athlete as she commutes from her home in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Arianna Ranahosseini: How did you meet your fiancé, Sasha Artemev?

Brianna Springer: We went to the same gym, so I’ve known him since I was eight. His dad used to coach me a long time ago, and he coaches him, so we’ve been working out ever since, pretty much.

AR: When are you getting married?

BS: We’ll see. We were thinking maybe this summer. We’re just trying to find some time because we are both so busy now, but we’re hoping that it could be this summer and we could travel somewhere.

AR: You’re not a typical freshman. What is it like being a commuter-student-athlete and engaged?

BS: It is [hard], but I love it. I’m kind of happy that I have the opportunity to do everything that I’m doing now, and be able to stay at home too. It’s just kind of like I get everything that I want, it’s kind of nice.

AR: You hadn’t played on a team before coming to DU. How does it compare?”

BS: It’s so much better having a team. The atmosphere is lighter, and you enjoy it a lot more. Everyone is really supportive it’s a lot, lot better than being by yourself.

AR: You took last year off, what did you do?

BS: I was working some, and I just kind of relaxed and helped support Sasha and figure out what I wanted to do.

AR: What made you decide to come to DU?

BS: It was kind of just a really sudden thing because Melissa came to watch me on Friday and school started on Monday and so we got it all done throughout the weekend. It really just kind of popped up, the opportunity came up, so I just kind of took it.

AR: How did you get started with gymnastics growing up?

BS: Well my mom was a ballet coach and she put me in ballet and I hated it because it was too slow for me. So then she put me in gymnastics when I was eight, and I’ve been in it ever since.

AR: You haven’t competed in the past few meets, what injuries are you dealing with?

BS: I had a stress fracture in my leg and then I had to wear a boot because of it and then it was kind of off balance.Then I have a stress reaction in my hip and a torn muscle. I should be back hopefully by next week, I’m hoping.