In Los Angeles this week for meetings and promotions, 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin told IG she is likely to return to serious training and competition next year.

"Right now I'm not so much training the events, but doing cardio and conditioning to stay in shape," said Liukin during Saturday's UCLA vs. University of Utah meet at Pauley Pavilion. "Because I'm traveling so much, it's hard. This year is going to be busy, so I don't know if I will be able to compete. But, as soon as [an upcoming promotion] is done, I would absolutely love to be 100 percent serious. I have already told [the promotion sponsors] that, if there is a year during which they want me to travel, it has to be this year. Because, starting next year, I'm going to be very serious about training and competing in 2011 and 2012."

Liukin was on hand at Saturday's meet to sign autographs and announce the UCLA Gymnastics/Nastia Liukin Summer Camp, which will take place July 15-18.

"I've been coming out here so much, and I really love it here," Liukin said. "L.A. is like my second home, and I've always been close with Miss Val (UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field). I've known her since I was 12 or 13. A lot of people think it's this new thing since Beijing, but it really isn't."

Liukin said she is looking forward to participating in every aspect of her camp.

"We were brainstorming what we could do, and we came up with this camp," Liukin said. "Chris [Waller, UCLA assistant head coach] and I have been putting it together, so I'll be really playing a major role in it. I'll be interacting with the kids, coaching and doing the extracurricular activities. I'm excited about it."

Liukin confided in IG regarding a major promotion that she said should be made public shortly. She said her involvement in this and other activities around the U.S. requires her to be very self-sufficient.

"I run my own schedule, by myself," she said. "Obviously, my agent Evan (Morganstern) books my appearances, but I keep my schedule on my BlackBerry. My mom is definitely there for me, but I book my own flights. I do everything for myself. I don't have an assistant. That's the way it's always been. When I was younger, my parents helped me out more, but I'm 20 now, so I can do things on my own."

Liukin said her post-Olympic endorsements and partnerships are not distracting her from pursuing her future gymnastics goals.

"Gymnastics is something I have a passion for," Liukin told IG. "It's not that I do it because of the sponsors or the opportunities. I do it because I truly love it. Even if you think about the opportunities, there are things I will turn down. But after 2012, there can be bigger and better opportunities, so you have to think of it like that."

Comments (10)

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OVER said:

	... likely to return or Very Serious? Which is it? Nastia is talking out of both sides of her mouth. Why don't these gymnasts just be quiet until they actually get back in the gym?
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January 10, 2010
Votes: +4

briohnyg said:

	... We love you Nastia! You're awesome! Best of luck for everything!
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January 11, 2010
Votes: -1

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Stuart Wolpert said:

	... What a fantastic opportunity, for young gymnasts to be able to meet and work with Nastia Liukin, and improve their skills, at the UCLA Gymnastics/Nastia Liukin Summer Camp this summer! Nastia Liukin is a true superstar. It's great that she is being so generous with her time.
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January 12, 2010
Votes: -2

maggie said:

	... a major promotion? I smell a reality show...
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January 14, 2010
Votes: +0

anonymous said:

	... She is so awesome! I love her
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January 20, 2010
Votes: +2

Ahmed said:

	oh really? I liked Nastia more when she was in the leo beating some scores... that's what gymnasts are made for, if they go out of it, they can talk as long as they want, but only 1% of them get back to the real thing and do what they said
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January 20, 2010
Votes: +3

ebirah said:

	... How often does the Olympic AA champ continue competing? Especially after a long absence ... ?
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February 02, 2010
Votes: +1

Gym said:

	... She's already retired. She's merely delaying the announcement in order to ensure that endorsements and opportunities keep rolling in as long as possible. Duh. She's STALLING.
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February 04, 2010
Votes: +0

alex said:

	I believe her No, I believe she'll go back. Are you kidding? She loves the sport- it is her life. And yes, it will be next to impossible for Nastia to get back into world-class shape, but have you ever seen a harder worker? And after all, isn't impossible nothing?? She can do it, and it will be a great thing for the sport. Go Nast!
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February 11, 2010
Votes: +2

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