"You know, to fall twice and still end up in second place, this just really only the beginning for me.''. Behind the scenes, it wasnt always going so well. Goodbye candle mounts, multiple wolf turns, split leaps, and 1/2 jumps from . Finally, McClain began to feel the weight of expectations, leaving her with a sense that she wasn't doing it for the right reasons anymore. She wanted to go and see her friends that she hadn't seen since third grade. Its not a coachs place to say what someones weight should be. Having grown since then, one thing that Lorinda and Susan can attest to is that her perfectionism and attention to detail has stayed consistent. I'm devastated about Ralph Boston's passing. Konnor speaks more to the struggle of growing up in West Virginia and with white people saying racist things around her. From Plano to world championships: Elite gymnast Konnor McClain's I'm like, Wow. He changed the game as an athlete, advocate and mentor. Aug. 22, 2022, 3:19 p.m. (ET). She doesn't really want to watch gymnastics tonight. Her sister was also on my team, and theyd both put on their leotards and come out and, and Konnor would just slide down in the most perfect split with pointed toes at two years old and do a backbend kickover., It was a good thing Konnor found a coach she loved and didnt mind showing off in front of, since she was a shy kid. Theyre not medical professionals nor dietitians. why did konnor mcclain switch gyms - cottonzone.in Lauries eyes are watering as the episode ends. Unlike most of the NBC gymnastics pieces from over the years, these episodes take a more . Data Deep Dive: What Makes an MVP in Gymnastics, Looking Back at the Highs and Lows of the 2023 Season, Way Too Early Power Rankings For the 2024 Season, Golden Recap Episode 6 College Gym News, LIVE BLOG: NCAA National Championship Final, LIVE BLOG: NCAA National Championships Semifinal II, LIVE BLOG: NCAA National Championships Semifinal I, LIVE BLOG: Los Angeles Regional Round Final. 2006 - Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. bus timetable trinity beach to smithfield; alabama state senators; carrie harkness flagler; i am very sorry for what i did meme; does texas hill country get tornadoes; why did konnor mcclain switch gyms. Drury seems exhausted from her training, which Laurie relates to. I'm getting better at driving, she shares. Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 21, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. TAMPA, Fla. Konnor McClain arrived at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Texas a year ago as a broken soul. His first retirement came after placing sixth at his third Olympics in 2014. Randy, her husband, says he did talk politics in the gym. The first step is the September training camp later this month, which will select the U.S. team for the world championships in October. Were just trying to get her back on track. McClain began Sunday just less than a point behind Jones but took the lead in the first rotation when she drilled her double-twisting Yurchenko vault while Jones hopped off the balance beam. For her family, this was no surprise. Laurie had fallen on her landing during warmups and hurt her knee. Switching gears today for a live blog of the senior women's session at Winter Cup, where the likes of Konnor McClain, Skye Blakely, Katelyn Jong, and insert name will compete for the first time in the new triennium and the first time under the new code. At 15, @konnormcclain_ wasnt old enough to compete at #Tokyo2020 until the Games were postponed. Everybody needed to see thatevery gymnast and every girl, every human being in the world needed to see that, McClain said. A week later, her grandmother also passed. It's definitely really weird because they always call me the baby and they always call me Baby Konnor, and, so, when we went to Winter Cup, everybody was younger than me and I was like, Oh my gosh, they're so tiny and cute, she said. When McClain arrived, Anna Liukin remembers finding a teenager nursing ankle injuries and her confidence level completely down. On vault, MyKayla has a solid landing, with a 14.975. After Almost Quitting Gymnastics, Konnor McClain - College Gym News Coaches can tell athletes they need to strengthen specific muscles or should try different exercises, but no, you shouldnt teach your child its OK for people who arent doctors to make recommendations about your health. The first day I was definitely nervous since it was like seven years since I've gone, but it's definitely been great my past two weeks, she shared. You won. I am thrilled to see former Olympians working for large media outlets and promoting the sport. Ive said it once, and Ill say it again. She did far more than that, taking the lead through one rotation on Sunday night and never letting go. As a child I idolized him and he was a major influence in my life. And then, when it comes to my front aerial and my dismount, I'm like, "Whoa, I'm shaking again. It was just meant to be that way. Our kids had no choice. In the final, Beamonsfirst jump was so far that the measuring device couldnt extend far enough to record it. McClain was born in Nevada. Not bad for an athlete nursing stress fractures in both shins and less than a month removed from a concussion suffered during training. McClain was one of five gymnasts featured on the Peacock docuseries Golden: The Journey of USA's Elite Gymnasts. And on top of that, she's super smart, very intelligent, makes corrections quickly, just really has the whole package.. The only thing missing from this weekend was being able to celebrate with her dad. Konnors dad says the reason people dont like Valeri is because he pushes girls so hard, but why else would they be there. Full Name Konnor McClain Nation United States Birthdate February 1, 2005 Status Active Click here for all coverage related to Konnor McClain on The Gymternet. The two have had a long friendship, dating back to their days attending U.S. developmental program camps together. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. "So I'm excited for the future.''. Boston leaped 8.21 meters, eight centimeters better than Owens. Once a junior standout herself, McClains career was fast forwarded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the site has transformed into a one-stop-shop for college gymnastics news, from recruiting analysis to meet coverage at the NCAA national championships thanks to the hard work of 15-plus contributors. The pressure mounting, and her love for the sport waning, McClain came home from practice one day shortly after that and made a split-second decision. The Media Needs to Stop Comparing Konnor McClain to Simone Biles As an 11-year-old she performed a balance beam routine on a national TV talent show, telling host Steve Harvey that she wanted to win the Olympic all-around title in 2024. Team Narrows Selection To 2021 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Who We Might See At The 2021 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, What To Watch For At The 2021 GK U.S. Classic, Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The first time when we were invited to National Team Camp, they asked me if I thought she was ready. In retrospect, this was probably the perfect way to find out about the news that was going to rule her entire life for the next year or so. The 17-year-old announced Wednesday that a back injury will keep her out of the global meet. The National Team Camp was a hurdle for Konnor, who was still recovering from her stomach infection but did not meet the petitioning requirements and had to compete for a spot. Menu. Many people were intrigued by the video because at four years old, Konnor was practicing incredibly advanced skills for her age. The family moved to West Virginia when McClain was 3. She gets a 15.300. Konnor McClain (Revolution) She turned her focus instead to her. Its such a big difference being so confident and not being garbage anymore. Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 11, 2019 in Kansas City, Miss. The other five later won Olympic and/or world all-around titles, the most recent Simone Biles. Just looking back at last year and being where I was last year, this is so crazy to me. For the time being, however, shes looking forward to competing again at the DTB Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, and then, hopefully, later this year at the World Championships in Liverpool. I don't know. Konnor McClain won her first U.S. gymnastics national championship Sunday night, rallying past Shilese Jones in the finals to complete a stunning turnaround since switching training gyms last year. I always tell people if it wasn't gymnastics, Konnor would strive to go to the Olympics in another sport. And then the Olympics is definitely there in the back of my mind, but I don't want to think about it too much right now, calling the 2024 Olympics her final goal, something shes been saying since she was at least 11. Boston won silver and bronze at the next two Olympics and remains the lone person to win an Olympic long jump medal of every color. The team won't be selected until mid-October. Continued Lee, I was like, There's going to be a part of you that's missing, but you're just going to have to rebuild. So she can figure out sometimes without Konnor having to talk just from her body language.. Kayla Dicello took fourth, with reigning Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey in fifth. The process has been arduous, both inside and outside the gym. One of the national team coaches told Lorinda that Konnor didnt say a word to them until she was 12 years old, but she was always happy to talk to Susan. I teared up a little bit because I was just so sweet and so special. MyKayla talks about how she didnt like gymnastics as a kid, but her mom kept her in it. With Lee and the rest of her Tokyo Olympic teammates either in NCAA, taking a break from elite competition, or retired, McClain finds herself quickly as one of the leaders of a USA team that has long dominated womens gymnastics. I loved them almost more than anyone in the world.. At first it was very overwhelming, I would say, and I felt a lot of peer pressure on me just because it was everywhere, Konnor said. Her sister was doing some backbend kick overs, and Konnor started doing backbend kick overs at 20 months oldthat's a little freaky for 20 months old and we have videos of it because I was like, no one will ever believe us, Lorinda shared. So that was a shocker. In 2018, he returned to singles skating after a four-year retirement. More: Olympics Id won a gold, silver and a bronze in that order. OlympicTalk is on Apple News. 2022 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. In the run-up to the 1968 Olympics, Boston reportedly became Beamons unofficial coach after Beamon and other UTEP track athletes lost their scholarships for boycotting a meet against BYU because of the Mormon churchs historically racist views. Going back to school at the peak of her gymnastics career is another choice Konnor and her family made that was right for her at the time, even though it wasnt the status quo. Instead, Jones who has faced hardships of her own this past year, and also lost her dad last December sat down on her dismount. Despite their close friendship with Konnor's old coach, Konnor's parents . Following U.S. Championships last year, a number of athletes made the switch to new gyms. Gymnastics Championships to win the all-around title in her first try as a senior. Its starting to feel real. Konnors parents appreciate the sacrifices Susan made for Konnor, but to make Konnor the best gymnasts she could be, she had to leave. Like, if Suni says it, then I can do it.. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. Slowly the coaches began building her back up. Konnor McClain, U.S. gymnastics champion, to miss world championships "I still think we're going to be able to pull through and have an amazing outcome,'' Chiles said. She was like, Here you go. McClain became the sixth woman to win the all-around in her senior nationals debut since 2000. I didnt really have the love for gymnastics, McClain said. College Gym News is your place for everything you need to know about collegiate gymnastics. They were like, What school is Konnor going to? And I was like, Let me join in. So I started it and then it became a thing, so I had to continue it all the way until I actually committed., Although LSU always felt special to McClain, she wasnt misleading fans when she appeared to be considering multiple options. At first [driving] was definitely scarier than gymnastics. To see Konnor McClain compete today, many people would happily pay a good amount of money. Then the injuries began piling up. What has been the hardest skill for your gymnast to acquire or get so far? They werent going to be bookworms, they were going to play sports, Lorinda shared, laughing. Learn how your comment data is processed. A couple of weeks after I switched [gyms] I really started doing it for me and not doing it for other people, because I just enjoyed it again, she said. Granted, Gabby switched her head coach within a closer time frame before Rio, but Christian had already been coaching her. Konnor McClain competes during the women's floor exercise at the 2022 U.S. Rest with the greats. When asked separately what their favorite moment in Konnors career has been, both Lorinda and Susan said it was when she won first all-around at Jesolo. Learn how your comment data is processed. I just tried to make it to this competition because coming here was a really hard road for me. After the first rotation, Sunis in second and MyKaylas in fourth. JavaScript is disabled. There McClain was on Sunday night during the final night of the 2022 championships, the talent that had always been apparent on full display, buoyed by a self-belief borne out of a mix of loss, grief and determination. College Gym News was founded in 2015 by Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Grimsley. Everything was moving fast. These two were the most amazing people I knew. Konnor is no outlier to the family trade - shes been athletically gifted since birth; sitting, crawling, and walking before her peers. The hope is to have her ready for the World Championships in the fall. Konnors mother Lorinda confirmed the news and said her daughter began training at WOGA on Tuesday (May, 25th) and will now be coached by Valeri Liukin. We dont know where Konnors journey will take her during the 2021 season, the 2024 season, and beyond, but we can be certain that wherever she goes, she will carve her own path and lead the way. Last years national championships were held in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from McClains new gym, which is known as WOGA. Its a hard task for a 17-year-old. My confidence has grown so much just in the last couple months, she said. They have Vanessa Atler talks about how Valeri would weigh her three times during training. They taught me pretty much everything I know. Daisuke Takahashi, who after an Olympic medal-winning singles figure skating career came back to ice dance, has retired along with partnerKana Muramoto, according to Japanese media citing a video on their Instagram. Konnor McClain during an interview with NBC Sports following competition at the 2022 U.S. 2) Konnor is a rare breed. Creating a Level 10+ Focused Team Program (Finances / Coaching / Athlete Selection / Facility / Etc), Daughter just turned 11, wants to hit lvl 10. Now lets pause. TAMPA, Fla. -- Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. The pair tell us how their friendship helped McClain get back on the mat. Konnor says that people only focus on the bad things about Valeri from the past, but everyone she knows likes him now. "I felt forced going into the gym. Her gymnastics, she said, was garbage. Her confidence shattered. Back in 2007, she had to beg people to watch her. Beamon heeded the advice and advanced. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. At the U.S. Championships in August, McClain edged Shilese Jonesby .75 of a point after Jones fell on the last skill of her last routine of the competition. Honestly, I'm not going to lie, [competing beam is] terrifying. In short, the episodes are far from The Ranch documentary from 2016. It was her first international with USA gymnastics and I'm just there having a good timemy cousin called or texted me and was like, I'm watching the meet and they said that McClain is going to stay on top. And I'm like, On top of what? I had no idea that she even had a chance to win and she was shocked too. Shes also talked about college gymnastics in the future, but hasnt decided on any schools. USA Gymnastics | Getting to know Konnor McClain - one of Team USA's Entering the Olympic year, she tried to enjoy it without putting too much pressure on herself, but nothing seemed to fall into place. What Susan and Konnor decided to do about the news was also unexpected. In a split second, her Olympic dream was just 12 months down the road. The thought of switching gyms had been looming in McClain's mind for the past year and half, but it wasn't an easy move to make. ", When asked how she mentally prepares before competing a beam routine, she admitted, I feel like my brain is scattered before beam even though it shouldn't be, I feel like it is.. Gymnasts cant compete in major senior international meets until the year they turn 16, so she would have been too young for the Tokyo Games had they been held in 2020. So as an example informed Australian, this seems like a big deal. And that moment was special for me because it just was so surreal after everything that we'd been through, Susan shared. Konnor McClain, who recently moved to Texas to train at WOGA under Valeri Liukin, competes at the 2019 U.S. Championships. The pressure is palpable in the arena as the meet is the first of three competitions that will end up selecting the U.S. Olympic team for Tokyo 2020. [Top athletes] are pulling their coaches to the next level too, in a lot of ways. "We're just trying to get her back on track. And then just whatever comes after that, but definitely World Championships later in the year. The transformation that began when she switched gyms in a rush last spring ended with the 17-year-old atop the podium, a gold medal around her neck and her self-belief restored. Just to get it at the end of the routine's going to take some time, but just having that E dismount is going to really help, and she also has a laid out Jaegerwe're still working the laid out full on beamand the Arabian on beam.. The 2019 U.S. junior all-around champion,Kayla DiCello, turned 16 on Jan. 25, 2020, and would have been eligible for an Olympics in 2020. Known for her powerful yet technically proficient gymnastics, McClain performed a show-stopping beam routine Friday, posting the highest score of the night on that event. The infection limited her to only two events at Winter Cup, which was supposed to be her senior debut. Jordan Chiles finished third in her first elite meet since winning a silver in the team competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Takahashi was trying to become the first figure skater to compete in the Olympics in their career in both singles and ice dance as medal events, according to Olympedia.org. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3860ed09bb427606f3c16e2d8cddaf3" );document.getElementById("af034859ed").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. So long freezing cold West Virginia, hello sunny Plano, Texas. MyKaylas nieces, nephew, sister, husband and mom are with her in the gym. On bars, Susan shares, the double front and then the double front half out is going to really work for her. In March 2020, Reed died of a sudden cardiac issue at age 30. If not for Boston, fellow American long jumperBob Beamonmight not have pulled off the most astonishing feat of those Olympics. Many elite gymnasts move to well-established legacy gyms once their training picks up, but Konnor has always attended the small program at Revolution gymnastics right in her hometown of Cross Lanes, West Virginia. "Golden" Episode 2 Recap - College Gym News We've talked about itshe communicates with all the girls at college, and you know how that goes with social media and everything, Susan shared. Konnor McClain found out about her Olympic eligibility the same way everyone else did: on Twitter. I feel like I'm really nervous at first when I salute and then I get up there and I'm like, "Oh, I'm good." At one point last spring, she felt she was "the most garbage gymnast ever." When she was little, she was very, very driven, very detail oriented, and anything that she put her mind to, she was going to basically work until she met that goal. Yet a year removed from a second-place finish to the Russian in Japan, the Americans appear to be a threat to return to the top of the sport even with reigning Olympic champion Lee and Biles both on sabbaticals from elite competition. Konnor decided to switch gyms because things just kept going poorly at her gym. Now, it's getting a little bit less scary. When it comes to gymnastics, Konnor McClain never takes the conventional route to success. Devastated, McClain reached out to a friend, Tokyo 2020 Olympic all-around gold medallist Sunisa Lee, seeking comfort, advice, and guidance. A committee will choose the five-woman world team after the selection camp. McClain says she didnt have expectations to win the Winter Cup, just getting back into the gym and then competition had been hard enough. I showed her the rotation, and we just laughed, a fun laugh, like a good, Are you kidding me, type of How cool is this? She wore a small patch with the letters MM on the back of her leotard, a tribute to the painful reality shed been living. Konnor McClains Olympic year was not supposed to go this way. After a half-hour process to locate and lay out tape, it was Boston who broke the news to Beamon that he had jumped 8.90 meters,improving the world record by nearly two feet. Once in Baton Rouge, she wants to help the team achieve that elusive first NCAA national title and wishes to have fun with the sport, enjoying the team environment that is missing from elite. Required fields are marked *. Boston won silver and bronze at the next two Olympics and remains the lone person to win an Olympic long jump medal of every color. I just know that., Shilese Jones Star Turn Puts Her In Pole Position Going Into Day 2 At Gymnastics Nationals, When School Let Out, These Three Star Gymnasts Resumed Their Quest To Be The Best, Juniors Dulcy Caylor, Tiana Sumanasekera Represent A Talented Next Generation Of U.S. Gymnasts. I was very unmotivated, I didn't want to go to the gym, I didn't care about the Olympics and I just wanted to be done with gymnastics completely because it felt like there was a part of me that was like missing and that's what I told her.". As a teenager, Konnor makes me feel SEEN. Along with learning logistics, Susan sought out a sports psychologist to gain confidence in coaching the mental aspects of gymnastics and wisdom to not get overwhelmed and give in to self-doubt. Konnor McClain rallied past Shilese Jones to win her first U.S. gymnastics national title. U.S. gymnast Konnor McClain on resetting after tragedy: "If Suni says Konnor had chosen to go to Valeri because of how helpful he was when she was in the development program. You would have never known. Picking up the pieces to rebuild the 16-year-old, regarded as one of the most talented gymnasts in the country, would be a gargantuan task for her new coaches, Valeri and Anna Liukin. She loved my dad. I felt forced going into the gym. He died in late December. She wanted to move gyms. In gut-wrenching social media posts, she questioned if she even wanted to continue in the sport. Morgans training for championships but is still sore. Peng Peng Lee is hyping up the audience, cheering for USA. How many people there know Peng is from Canada? I would say I had very low goals for myself at this competition, so I went in really thinking, 'Just do your best. Sunis dad mentions how he thought a leotard cost maybe 20 bucks. Oh boy, wouldnt that be nice. In the few months she spent at WOGA, McClain has already made two important decisions. Perhaps even more remarkable, McClain estimates she's about 75% healthy, optimistic she'll be in even better shape at the world championships in Liverpool, England, this fall. As a child I idolized him and he was a major influence in my life. The news left McClain overwhelmed. Being the only Black girl in her group, Konnor felt uncomfortable in the environment. I've always gone to their house, and Konnor was just two years old, and her mom would say, Don't put your leotard on when Susan comes over. Konnor says until the pandemic started, things were good with her coach, Susan, and in the gym. How Konnor McClain Carves Her Own Path To Success Do their kids just hang around the gym all day? After the death of her father in December 2021, McClain turned to Olympic champion Sunisa Lee for support and guidance. McClain at that point was especially low. College Gym News is your place for everything you need to know about collegiate gymnastics. Favorite us! It was easy to end my career, in 1968, Boston said. Per communication with her mother, Konnor McClain will not be competing this weekend at the U.S. Championships or at the Olympic Trials in a few weeks. I think it's considered a big deal because: 1) Timing. Following in the footsteps of two of her cousins, Konnor is considering becoming a firefighter in the future. While shes working on beam, Jess is scribbling judges shorthand, trying to figure out how to maximize her routines potential. She then performed a balance beam routine in front of a studio audience. Carl Lewis (@Carl_Lewis) April 30, 2023, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Daisuke Takahashi, pioneering Japanese figure skater, retires again, Ralph Boston, Olympic long jump champion, dies at 83, Ukraine boycotts judo worlds after Russians, Belarusians allowed as neutrals, Joel Embiid unlikely to play at FIBA World Cup, France coach says, who called Owens a mentor and dear friend, reportedly became Beamons unofficial coach. Get the most important Gymnastics stories delivered straight to your inbox. Also in qualifying, Beamon fouled his first two of three jumps, giving him one last chance to make the final. If youd like to watch along, the episodes are available. She's really like a sister to me, Susan shared, making Konnors coaching experience more like a family one. By submitting my information, I agree to the, DiCello, Wong Headline 2021 Women's Artistic World Championships Team, Konnor McClain - Floor, WOGA Gymnastics - 2021 Women's World Championships Selection Event, Konnor McClain - Beam, WOGA Gymnastics - 2021 Women's World Championships Selection Event, Konnor McClain - Bars, WOGA Gymnastics - 2021 Women's World Championships Selection Event, Konnor McClain - Vault, WOGA Gymnastics - 2021 Women's World Championships Selection Event, U.S. Even in Mommy and Me class, Konnor McClain was precocious. Takahashi, 37, and Muramoto, 30, won a national title and placed 11th and 16th at the last two world championships after teaming up during the pandemic in 2020.