University Southern California Trojans
Getting To Know Gavin Champ
October 30, 2023 | Track & Field
The latest "Getting To Know" features TCU transfer and sophomore jumper Gavin Champ. He reached the 2023 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in the triple jump as a freshman. Champ discusses his transition from Texas to California in pursuit of a national championship, disclosing his long-term track & field and career aspirations along with the driving force behind his goals.
Q: I know that you're studying biology looking to get into dentistry so, what made you interested in this specific field?
GC: I think the biggest thing that got me into dentistry is my aunt back home works at a dental office, so I was always up there all the time. Also, a very close family friend, she's the one that owns that dentistry office. I was always learning more about healthcare studies and just dentistry in general. I mean, my mom's a phlebotomist, so she works in the hospital. I've gotten both aspects of it. And I think dentistry just kind of matches how I foresee myself in the future.
Q: What made you want to transfer to USC?
GC: I was really drawn to the winning culture here at USC. Another thing that attracted me to USC was the education. I mean, you can't find a better education than USC unless you're going to maybe some place like Harvard. Also, what attracted me to USC is the history of just winning, whether it's on the track, whether it's in the school, or just in any other sport. We just have a big history of winning, and that's something I wanted to be a part of, for sure.
Q: What other schools were looking at you when you decided to transfer?
GC: Our arch nemesis UCLA, Texas and Baylor.
Q: How do you like California? How different is it from Texas?
GC: One thing I love about California is we're sitting outside right now, and we're not both dripping in sweat. I think that's the biggest thing. I like walking around and not dying of a heat stroke. I also like the community. Everybody here is really nice. It's really cool here. I like being around people that have the same mentality as me as in they want to win in life, whether that's in sports or on the education side.
Q: Have you found your transition to the track team to be smooth? Whether it's training wise team chemistry wise?
GC: Yes on both aspects of that. I feel like our team chemistry is on a different level. I have 10 times more respect for the track team because of how easy they made it for me instead of making me feel like a transfer student and have made me feel like I've been here since my freshman year.
Q: How did you start getting into track?
GC: I've been jumping for as long as I can remember, but I started taking it seriously when I got into high school and I realized that football wasn't going to work out, and out of nowhere I just jumped really well. Then I started taking jumping seriously and started locking in.
Q: Did you think football was the sport for you at first?
GC: Yeah, for sure. That was my first serious sport. I mean if you're not playing football in Texas what are you doing, right?
Q: How involved is your family when it comes to the track? Would you say they're your biggest support system?
GC: I would definitely say my family as a whole is very supportive. They were super nervous about me coming to California though, because as I said, I've only been here one time. I guess I was that person in the family that you would call the glue. Me stepping away was a hard transition for everybody. I would say, they're definitely my rock, especially my little brother. The main reason I came out here and took a chance was to show him that there's more to the world than just staying in Texas and staying in that specific place.
Q: How old is your brother?
GC: Nine.
Q: So would you say he looks up to you?
GC: Oh, yeah, for sure. He wants to jump, but I want him to play basketball. He enjoys all types of sports. Honestly, I just want him to enjoy life. For me setting the standard high for him, I feel like he'll always have something to live up to, instead of me doing nothing at all.
Q: Now that you've been in LA, what's your favorite thing that you've done? And are there other things that you want to do that LA has presented you with?
GC: For sure. I think the most fun that I've had, is probably just the drives and going to the beach. I'm a big ocean guy. Being in Texas, there is no ocean, just lakes. I just love the ocean, just to sit there vibe. I'm just a really chill kind of person.
Q: What do you do with your teammates outside of training and all that fun stuff?
GC: I would say the biggest thing with my teammates would be taking drives. They show me around, because there's still so much I haven't seen. I'm a big manifester and I like to surround myself around things that I want in the future. Probably twice a week, I'll take a trip over to the hills and look down at the city and there's a $30 million house behind me…it's insane.
Q: By the end of your USC career, what do you see yourself accomplishing?
GC: First and foremost, a national championship. We gotta bring one of those to Coach [Quincy] Watts. I have two big goals: becoming a national champion and getting into whatever dental school I want. I think those are my two biggest goals.
Q: Why those two specific goals?
GC: You can build a lot off of that. Me saying that I won a national championship. I don't have to sit there and tell you I'm going work hard. You're not going get a national championship without working hard. I don't even have to tell you that. It's one of those things where I can build off a lot of those things and the dental part has just always been a big factor for me.
Q: I know that you're studying biology looking to get into dentistry so, what made you interested in this specific field?
GC: I think the biggest thing that got me into dentistry is my aunt back home works at a dental office, so I was always up there all the time. Also, a very close family friend, she's the one that owns that dentistry office. I was always learning more about healthcare studies and just dentistry in general. I mean, my mom's a phlebotomist, so she works in the hospital. I've gotten both aspects of it. And I think dentistry just kind of matches how I foresee myself in the future.
Q: What made you want to transfer to USC?
GC: I was really drawn to the winning culture here at USC. Another thing that attracted me to USC was the education. I mean, you can't find a better education than USC unless you're going to maybe some place like Harvard. Also, what attracted me to USC is the history of just winning, whether it's on the track, whether it's in the school, or just in any other sport. We just have a big history of winning, and that's something I wanted to be a part of, for sure.
Q: What other schools were looking at you when you decided to transfer?
GC: Our arch nemesis UCLA, Texas and Baylor.
Q: How do you like California? How different is it from Texas?
GC: One thing I love about California is we're sitting outside right now, and we're not both dripping in sweat. I think that's the biggest thing. I like walking around and not dying of a heat stroke. I also like the community. Everybody here is really nice. It's really cool here. I like being around people that have the same mentality as me as in they want to win in life, whether that's in sports or on the education side.
Q: Have you found your transition to the track team to be smooth? Whether it's training wise team chemistry wise?
GC: Yes on both aspects of that. I feel like our team chemistry is on a different level. I have 10 times more respect for the track team because of how easy they made it for me instead of making me feel like a transfer student and have made me feel like I've been here since my freshman year.
Q: How did you start getting into track?
GC: I've been jumping for as long as I can remember, but I started taking it seriously when I got into high school and I realized that football wasn't going to work out, and out of nowhere I just jumped really well. Then I started taking jumping seriously and started locking in.
Q: Did you think football was the sport for you at first?
GC: Yeah, for sure. That was my first serious sport. I mean if you're not playing football in Texas what are you doing, right?
Q: How involved is your family when it comes to the track? Would you say they're your biggest support system?
GC: I would definitely say my family as a whole is very supportive. They were super nervous about me coming to California though, because as I said, I've only been here one time. I guess I was that person in the family that you would call the glue. Me stepping away was a hard transition for everybody. I would say, they're definitely my rock, especially my little brother. The main reason I came out here and took a chance was to show him that there's more to the world than just staying in Texas and staying in that specific place.
Q: How old is your brother?
GC: Nine.
Q: So would you say he looks up to you?
GC: Oh, yeah, for sure. He wants to jump, but I want him to play basketball. He enjoys all types of sports. Honestly, I just want him to enjoy life. For me setting the standard high for him, I feel like he'll always have something to live up to, instead of me doing nothing at all.
Q: Now that you've been in LA, what's your favorite thing that you've done? And are there other things that you want to do that LA has presented you with?
GC: For sure. I think the most fun that I've had, is probably just the drives and going to the beach. I'm a big ocean guy. Being in Texas, there is no ocean, just lakes. I just love the ocean, just to sit there vibe. I'm just a really chill kind of person.
Q: What do you do with your teammates outside of training and all that fun stuff?
GC: I would say the biggest thing with my teammates would be taking drives. They show me around, because there's still so much I haven't seen. I'm a big manifester and I like to surround myself around things that I want in the future. Probably twice a week, I'll take a trip over to the hills and look down at the city and there's a $30 million house behind me…it's insane.
Q: By the end of your USC career, what do you see yourself accomplishing?
GC: First and foremost, a national championship. We gotta bring one of those to Coach [Quincy] Watts. I have two big goals: becoming a national champion and getting into whatever dental school I want. I think those are my two biggest goals.
Q: Why those two specific goals?
GC: You can build a lot off of that. Me saying that I won a national championship. I don't have to sit there and tell you I'm going work hard. You're not going get a national championship without working hard. I don't even have to tell you that. It's one of those things where I can build off a lot of those things and the dental part has just always been a big factor for me.
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