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. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. At one point, MyKaylas fathers pay was cut and they didnt think they were going to be able to afford gymnastics, but her coach created a position in the gyms office for her mom. McClain became the sixth woman to win the all-around in her senior nationals debut since 2000. Everything. If not for Boston, fellow American long jumperBob Beamonmight not have pulled off the most astonishing feat of those Olympics. It was only a matter of time before someone would invite this comparison. As a teenager, Konnor makes me feel SEEN. The only thing missing from this weekend was being able to celebrate with her dad. The choice of taking a step back and prioritizing her physical and mental health was important for McClain. A national title? Nevertheless, she gets a 13.750. Ngl, that seems like a blast. McClain, who competed at her first world championships in October 2021, marveled at her position in the sport. Unlike most of the NBC gymnastics pieces from over the years, these episodes take a more serious angle. Laurie cant wait to be a crowd pleaser again. Laurie talks about how she was really happy with the silver medal she got at Rio and she just wants to emulate that performance and feeling. She says Morgan inspired her to speak up. Id won a gold, silver and a bronze in that order. With less than two years to go until the Olympic team is named . I would say I had very low goals for myself at this competition, so I went in really thinking, 'Just do your best. 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. However, Susan often brought up outside topics like Donald Trump or things happening in China, instead of being focused on gymnastics. McClain was expected to be a factor in the run-up to the 2020 Olympics but struggled so much early in the competition season last spring that she needed to make a change, moving abruptly from West Virginia to Texas. I mean, she was in her meet mode, and I could just tell that's what she was doing. Well, I'm not going to say no to that, Susan shared, laughing. As recently as two weeks ago, it wasnt a given that McClain would even be ready for nationals. For Susan, the meet was memorable for an entirely different reason. Also in qualifying, Beamon fouled his first two of three jumps, giving him one last chance to make the final. Boston broke the mens long jump world record six times between 1960-65 and shared the record going into the 1968 Mexico City Games. I'm actually really excited for [the trip to Germany] and excited for later in the season where I could hopefully put some upgrades in and be at my full potential and peak at worlds, said McClain. Konnor decided to switch gyms because things just kept going poorly at her gym. Your email address will not be published. I've always just wanted to help people in a way, and I didn't want to go to school to be a surgeon for like eight years. Takahashis greatest success came in 2010, when he became the first Japanese man to win an Olympic figure skating medal (bronze) and a world title. 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. Follow on . Lauries eyes are watering as the episode ends. I just wanted to make sure I had everything it took to help Konnor reach her ultimate goal, just equipping myself with as many tools as I can, she shared, adding, Konnor's always pulling meIm not necessarily in the lead here in the training. Boston was reportedly an inspiration for Beamon, having spoken in front of Beamon and his classmates in a high school gym in 1964. The gymnastics that came so easily for so long to the precocious teenager had turned shaky. Lorinda's really like my sister, now that I think about it. with a free Peacock account. College Gym News was founded in 2015 by Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Grimsley. The thought of uprooting her family also weighed on her mind. While McClain made her peace with how this year started, coming to the conclusion that 2021 wasnt her time, shes more committed than ever to turn 2024 into her Olympic year. A post shared by Konnor McClain (@konnormcclain_). In March 2020, Reed died of a sudden cardiac issue at age 30. As far as upgrades, Konnor and Susan have a lot planned. Following in the footsteps of two of her cousins, Konnor is considering becoming a firefighter in the future. The gymnastics that came so easily for so long to the precocious teenager had turned shaky. Its a hard task for a 17-year-old. 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 McClain competes during the women's balance beam at the 2022 U.S. . Even in Mommy and Me class, Konnor McClain was precocious. If not for Boston, fellow American long jumperBob Beamonmight not have pulled off the most astonishing feat of those Olympics. She was like, Here you go. At one point last spring, she felt she was "the most garbage gymnast ever." Growing up in a family of athletes, Lorinda played soccer and cheered in college, Konnors dad played college football at Southern Utah, and her uncle was in the Olympic Trials for boxing. Aug. 22, 2022, 3:19 p.m. (ET). Susan and Lorinda have been friends since grade school, working at the local pool, doing gymnastics together, and going to college and cheerleading together. Rest with the greats. Back to her original timeline, McClain was making progress and qualified for her first world championships team last fall. That seemed to be the theme for many of the gymnasts at that meet. Its a great routine, especially after falling at Classic. The video was originally uploaded by Konnors mom, Lorinda McClain, because Konnor liked watching herself after practice. While Laurie said it was because the beam and bars were cursed, perhaps it could be chalked up to the idea that when an immense amount of pressure is put on young adults, they tend to crack, or in the gymnasts case, slip. Almost two months to the day of her fathers passing, McClain entered her first event of the 2022 season, the Winter Cup Challenge. And I think just to throw that into the mix, I think just put a little extra pressure with our upgrades because before she had three years to perfect the upgrades and now she's really having to work on them a little bit more than she probably would have.. Konnor speaks more to the struggle of growing up in West Virginia and with white people saying racist things around her. Required fields are marked *. Konnor is really technically a beautiful gymnast on all the events. She just really has that attention to detail, and she's had it since she was a kid from the toes all the way to the fingertips.. Sensing Beamons nerves, Boston told his younger teammate to move it back three feet with a cautious jump to avoid fouling, Beamon later said. Konnor had chosen to go to Valeri because of how helpful he was when she was in the development program. It's a goal that appears in reach if she can build on two days that showcased her power, precision and maturity. Muramoto and Takahashi made their competitive debut as a dance couple in November 2020 and missed the 2022 Olympic team by one spot. Its a lot different, I wont have to switch up [my plan] in a year or less.. Its time for gymnasts to show what theyre capable of. I think it definitely happened way too fast for me and too fast for my brain to handle all of that, she said. I was ready to quit gymnastics, McClain said. So this one element cost her a LOT and didn't gain her anything. In fact, it was not supposed to happen this year at all. MyKaylas nieces, nephew, sister, husband and mom are with her in the gym. Once a junior standout herself, McClains career was fast forwarded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Required fields are marked *. Also in qualifying, Beamon fouled his first two of three jumps, giving him one last chance to make the final. 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? The video was originally uploaded by Konnor's mom, Lorinda McClain, because Konnor liked watching herself after practice. McClains journey still has a long way to go. Do their kids just hang around the gym all day? Valeri Liukin, a co-founder and owner of WOGA, had also built a relationship with McClain from his time as the elite development coordinator from USA Gymnastics. They have Vanessa Atler talks about how Valeri would weigh her three times during training. 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. Creating a Level 10+ Focused Team Program (Finances / Coaching / Athlete Selection / Facility / Etc), Daughter just turned 11, wants to hit lvl 10. Did the inspiration for Payson Keelers plot line come from the Skinner family? The team won't be selected until mid-October. Though nerve-wracking to compete as a senior, the joy of competition remained the same. Her older sister Liv was on pre-team at the time, and everything Liv came home and did from class, Konnor mimicked. Maybe, just maybe, the best for her was not letting her compete while she was throwing up in a bag. She wanted to move gyms. When the scores came up, Liukin whispered into McClains ear. So long freezing cold West Virginia, hello sunny Plano, Texas. After a subpar performance at the U.S. Classic McClain abruptly left her gym in West Virginia and moved to Texas to train at WOGA under Valeri Liukin. Until then, I saw myself as just another local yokel, Boston, who called Owens a mentor and dear friend, said last year. At least one woman who turned 16 or younger in the Olympic year made the last 10 U.S. Olympic teams. You're going to have to refocus. 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. College Gym News is your place for everything you need to know about collegiate gymnastics. Maybe I cant do it all the time, maybe Im not perfect all the time. The Liukins are well-known in the sport. my #1 supporter, i love and miss you more than words can describe https://t.co/zC4owvGqzd. An ankle injury delayed her preparation and left her unable to compete consistently in the all around. It was more, Wow. Slowly the coaches began building her back up. 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. He changed the game as an athlete, advocate and mentor. Morgan says it will get easier with time, hopefully. Now, I hate to sound like a broken record, but maybe training with an elbow that isnt fully healed is the reason it hasnt been getting any easier? According to the USAG website and Chalkwarriors Twitter, Konnor is now trained by Valeri Liukin at WOGA. She was like, Yes, you can. She was like, I felt the same way, too, at one point, McClain told Olympics.com of her conversations with the Olympic champion. Honestly for a really good two or three months it was kind of like a seesaw, ups and downs, Liukin recalled. In March 2020, Reed died of a sudden cardiac issue at age 30. Laurie said that she was having a nervous breakdown before Classic. She's just really driven to go to the Olympicsat a very, very young age she's always wanted thisa great combination of work ethic, strength, flexibility, drive. Jess Graba and Alison Lim, Sunis coaches, are getting their kids out the door and to the gym. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Theres a somber mood as the first night of championships. Konnor has some issues with the ligaments in her foot and other issues and wont be going to championships, which means she wont be going to Olympic Trials. Susan feels like Konnors family could have handled the situation better because what they did was so sudden. We get an explanation as to why its so important that gymnasts peak at certain times, and how challenging that makes the sport. She made it to the arena that weekend, but not to compete. Daisuke Takahashi, pioneering Japanese figure skater, retires again The process has been arduous, both inside and outside the gym. Finally, after nearly two years of turmoil, she feels like shes back where she wanted to be with two years to go until the Paris Games. A lot. Last years national championships were held in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from McClains new gym, which is known as WOGA. Konnor is very close with her sister, and credits her as the main thing thats helped her mentally survive the difficulties of the pandemic, including that moment. 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. . After a while, MyKayla grew to enjoy the sport, but it was taxing on their family. Konnor initially started at a gym where Susan coached, and when Susan opened her own gym in 2009 closer to home, Konnor followed. In the final, Beamonsfirst jump was so far that the measuring device couldnt extend far enough to record it. 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. While shes working on beam, Jess is scribbling judges shorthand, trying to figure out how to maximize her routines potential. A little more than a year before the Games, she reset her sights from 2024 to 2021. At just 17 years old, four-time U.S. Women's National Team member Konnor McClain is a rising star in the sport of gymnastics and a leading contender to represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. 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. People are going to hate me Because I wasnt even acting like myself.. Theres nothing for fourth place, so I just said, OK, thats enough.'. Beamon heeded the advice and advanced. She falls on bars, then on beam. Its such a big difference being so confident and not being garbage anymore. Ralph Boston, who in 1960 brokeJesse Owens world record in the long jump and then won the Olympic title, died at age 83, according to Tennessee State, his alma mater, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic alumni association. I didnt want to, but I was so done. 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. Its so unreal, and I honestly cant believe it. why did konnor mcclain switch gyms. Konnor McClain competes at the 2019 U.S. Your email address will not be published. Sensing Beamons nerves, Boston told his younger teammate to move it back three feet with a cautious jump to avoid fouling, Beamon later said. As 2021 was winding down, tragedy struck U.S. gymnast Konnor McClain. Muramoto was a singles skater through her teens, then competed in the 2018 Olympics in dance with Chris Reed. Konnor McClains Olympic year was not supposed to go this way. I wasnt expecting this year to happen, so going into this year, it was hard on my mind, she said. At first [driving] was definitely scarier than gymnastics. JavaScript is disabled. Its not a coachs place to say what someones weight should be. The world of Olympic gold medalists is small. Morgans training for championships but is still sore. Like, if Suni says it, then I can do it.. Peng Peng Lee is hyping up the audience, cheering for USA. How many people there know Peng is from Canada? Besides gymnastics, Konnor is just your average teenager, getting her drivers permit and attending public schoolwell, as of two weeks ago at least. McClain was expected to be a part of the 2020 Olympic team, but a rough season combined with injuries led her to abruptly switch coacheswhich is a decision not normally made during an Olympic . Reed retired in 2019. Her and her sister are super closeother than a good gymnast, she's just a good person. Boston leaped 8.21 meters, eight centimeters better than Owens. In a split second, her Olympic dream was just 12 months down the road. Her score of 13.850 opened the door for Jones, who was waiting to go on uneven bars as McClain's score flashed. Wrestlers' anguished plea: Can't PM Modi listen to our 'mann ki baat'? At the 1968 Games, Boston broke his own Olympic record in qualifying by jumping 8.27 meters. The news left McClain overwhelmed. Her coach knows her so welljust from her emotions, from her facial expressions, from her body language, Lorinda shared. When she walked between six and a half and seven months old, Lorinda was concerned it was too early and even called a physical therapist to make sure it was okay. McClain learned the Olympics were postponed in March 2020, this making her age-eligible for Tokyo, while watching The Hunger Games: Catching Fire., Just to make it to the Olympic Trials would be such an accomplishment, especially for her being young, her mom said in April 2020. Guess what? she said. On vault, shes focused on perfecting her double twist and working an Amanar. Shes been homeschooled since fourth grade to focus on gymnastics, and just started going to high school as a sophomore to take one class a day, art, and then goes to gymnastics in the afternoons. Konnor and her mom have been living in and out of hotels since she got to Texas. A week later, her grandmother also passed. @simone_biles@usagym@gymnastics pic.twitter.com/BwLgNiOLXd, It's just something that we weren't expecting, Lorinda explained. He changed the game as an athlete, advocate and mentor. 2022 Results Date Competition VT UB BB FX AA Aug 18-21 U.S. Championships AA 14.350 14.050 14.100 13.850 56.350 QF 14.400 13.300 14.800 13.900 56.400 Apr 9-10 City of Jesolo Theres a conversation about the price of gymnastics and the sacrifices many families make to afford it. At one point last spring, she felt she was "the most garbage gymnast ever." Try to forget the past and not be anxious about the future. 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. Id won a gold, silver and a bronze in that order. One gymnast, however, is not performing the way shes capable. Besides school and driving, Konnor loves to draw and paint, and is writing two books right now, one about foster kids and the other an autobiography. On Sunday night, in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Tampa, Florida, the rebirth came to fruition. 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." We were working for 2024, so this kind of threw a wrench in our spokes.. I think that is so good because sometimes Konnor can be shy. "Anything can happen,'' McClain said. After an honest conversation with her parents, McClain decided to relocate from Revolution in West Virginia to WOGA in Texas to train with Valeri Liukin, who coached 2008 Olympic champion Nastia Liukin. From Konnors perspective, though it may look effortless, thats not quite how it feels. OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Theyre not medical professionals nor dietitians. Luckily for her, this National Team is only for a few months, and will be renamed at U.S. Championships, where she will get another shot to make it back on. Like what you see? Konnors dad said he asked Konnor what she would do if Valeri said she had to lose five pounds, and she said shed do it. 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. A committee will choose the five-woman world team after the selection camp. Then the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were postponed a year, and a subsequent adjustment to the minimum-age requirement suddenly made her eligible. I'd say this year, just with the age change, was definitely a hard year for me because just running it through my head, thinking about it and seeing it everywhere all over social media was definitely hard, but I've learned just to not think about it and to keep my mind away from it more, instead of just always putting that on myself and putting the pressure on myself, she shared. Content Summary [ Hide] 1 1.After Almost Quitting Gymnastics, Konnor McClain Commits to LSU 2 2.Konnor McClain moves to WOGA - Inside Gymnastics Magazine 3 3.Konnor McClain moves to WOGA (confirmed on her IG) : r/Gymnastics 4 4.why did konnor mcclain switch gyms 5 5.Elite gymnast Konnor McClain's abrupt move to WOGA 'all worth it' Just doing routines over and over again, and knowing I can do the routines and coming to the competition knowing I can make it too. But for a local. Sunis dad mentions how he thought a leotard cost maybe 20 bucks. Oh boy, wouldnt that be nice. She wasfeatured onSteve Harveys Little Big Shots at age 11 in 2016, proclaiming she was set on the 2024 Olympic all-around title. I literally thought that I was the most garbage gymnast ever, she said this week. She won the Winter Cup in late February but had trouble staying healthy during the spring and early summer. I always tell people if it wasn't gymnastics, Konnor would strive to go to the Olympics in another sport. Then, at the U.S. Classic in May 2021, she struggled. I've actually recently started going back to school, which has been good, and finding new friends, Konnor shared. As we get closer and closer to the Olympics, NBC released episode 5 of its series Golden: The Journey of USAs Elite Gymnasts on its new streaming service, Peacock. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. McClain, who recently changed gyms to move from West Virginia to WOGA in Texas, is focusing on the next Olympic cycle, possibly beginning with the world championships in October in Japan, her mom said Wednesday, confirming an Inside Gymnastics report. 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. Switching gyms with less than a month to go before Olympic Trials is not something you see often (ever?). Konnor decided to switch gyms because things just kept going poorly at her gym. 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. Konnor McClain (Revolution) She turned her focus instead to her. 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. And I havent felt the joy for the sport in a long time. "If my dad dies, I die," she wrote on Snapchat in late December. Instead, she performed wearing a patch with his initials on it, dedicating her performance to her biggest supporter.