In a split second, her Olympic dream was just 12 months down the road. 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. When McClain started her recruiting process, she began to tease fans about her collegiate choice, dropping real and fake clues on social media about the schools she was considering. On beam, Morgan falls on her back full, as well as her side aerial + back layout sequence and nearly hits her face on her dismount, only getting a 10.300. That includesKyla Ross, the 2011 U.S. junior all-around silver medalist who made the 2012 Olympic team. Theres a conversation about the price of gymnastics and the sacrifices many families make to afford it. "I was having a rough year inside the gym. Konnor McClain competes during the women's floor exercise at the 2022 U.S. So that was a shocker. Guess what? she said. 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. Lauries eyes are watering as the episode ends. She skipped last years nationals (and a shot at Olympic Trials) to focus on 2024 after moving from West Virginia to Texas to train under AnnaandValeri Liukin, the parents of 2008 Olympic gold medalistNastia Liukin. I mean, she loves my family. 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. Konnor had chosen to go to Valeri because of how helpful he was when she was in the development program. Then, at the U.S. Classic in May 2021, she struggled. Konnor McClain Rallies to Claim US Gymnastics National Title She's a little older and can handle more, Lorinda shared. If not for Boston, fellow American long jumperBob Beamonmight not have pulled off the most astonishing feat of those Olympics. Her whole family is there cheering her on, including her dad. 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. Wrestlers' anguished plea: Can't PM Modi listen to our 'mann ki baat'? Eventually, the special relationship she already felt with the LSU coaching staff, as well as her close friendship with incoming freshman Aleah Finneganshe talked me into committing and liking LSU, McClain saidmade her choose the Tigers. College, however, will have to wait until the fall of 2024, as before then McClain will seek to finally achieve that Olympic dream shes had since she was a child. Though everyone is excited about her Olympic eligibility, Konnor is focused on one thing at a time. This year will be the first year that she is the only gymnast competing at her level. As per usual, Suni is feeling a little bit stressed, and is still struggling with injuries. I feel like it encourages all of us to be honest, just all of us supporting each other from different DI colleges all around, and then me and my younger brother were doing our thing togetherI feel like it encourages us and strives us to be better, Konnor shared. U.S. champion Konnor McClain will miss world championships 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. To see Konnor McClain compete today, many people would happily pay a good amount of money. McClain never gave the lead back, though there were some nail-biting moments late. In 2018, he returned to singles skating after a four-year retirement. In this instance, the balance check on the landing cost her another 0.3 or 0.5 (depending on whether it was deemed medium or large). A production company owned by LeBron James began filming her journey as part of a Peacock docuseries about Olympic womens gymnastics hopefuls. This wasnt our initial goal anyway to do Trials or Olympics this year. By Chrs McDougall | Knowing that Konnor was talented from the start, Susan made sure she educated herself about training an elite gymnast and what she had to learn - Konnor is Susans first and so far, only elite gymnast. Theres a somber mood as the first night of championships. The night she got home from Classic, she cleared everything out of her locker, which is commemorated in a TikTok, obviously. She feels like Tom and the Olympic Committee always see her injured, so she may not seem reliable. What has been the hardest skill for your gymnast to acquire or get so far? She loved my dad. [Top athletes] are pulling their coaches to the next level too, in a lot of ways. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Her gymnastics, she said, was garbage. Her confidence shattered. 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. With less than two years to go until the Olympic team is named . 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. 2) Konnor is a rare breed. 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. At least until her dismount, which Jones underrotated, forcing her to sit on the mat, her hopes of a national championship gone. Shes pushed an unexpected run at the Games out of her mind, reverting back to what the plan had always been: Paris 2024. TAMPA, Fla. -- Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. Konnor McClain rallies past Shilese Jones in finals to claim first U.S Konnor decided to switch gyms because things just kept going poorly at her gym. She was like, Here you go. Even the best in the world cant do it sometimes and has to take a break. why did konnor mcclain switch gyms. The night she got home from Classic, she cleared everything out of her locker, which is commemorated in a TikTok, obviously. When the Olympics were postponed, McClain became eligible to make the U.S. team, but a difficult start to her 2021 campaign prompted her to withdraw from the Olympic process, switch gyms from Revolution to WOGA and commit to a more relaxed training schedule that she hopes will lead her to Paris 2024. Though McClain had some uncharacteristic struggles on beam and missed one of her skills, her lead held up going into the final rotation. So long freezing cold West Virginia, hello sunny Plano, Texas. Her score of 13.850 opened the door for Jones, who was waiting to go on uneven bars as McClain's score flashed. As a teenager, Konnor makes me feel SEEN. 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. b) she was upset about it being her last competition with Revolution (because her parents are pushing a move to WOGA with the intention of furthering her Tokyo chances). 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. 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. Konnor McClain Wins 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships As Black - MSN That's my number one priority, Susan shared. 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. The two have had a long friendship, dating back to their days attending U.S. developmental program camps together. It kind of took me a long time to get back into the groove of things. I loved them almost more than anyone in the world.. Finally, McClain began to feel the weight of expectations, leaving her with a sense that she wasnt doing it for the right reasons anymore. Boston died Sunday morning after recently suffering a stroke, according to the Tennessean. "If Suni says it, then I can do it." McClain took Lee's words to heart. Although this is very upsetting after such a successful year, she posted. 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.". Ive said it once, and Ill say it again. In the final, Beamonsfirst jump was so far that the measuring device couldnt extend far enough to record it. When the Tokyo Olympics were postponed a year, she suddenly found herself eligible for a Games shed never thought about. Those three, along with McClain, Jones, DiCello and Skye Blakely appear to be the top contenders to make the five-woman team that will head to Liverpool for the world championships in late October. 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. Like what you see? Konnors mom is canceling Konnors weekly massage because they, very casually, have moved out of the state. 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. Behind the scenes, it wasnt always going so well. McClain had trained at the same gym, with the same coach, her whole career. He changed the game as an athlete, advocate and mentor. The world of Olympic gold medalists is small. Following in the footsteps of two of her cousins, Konnor is considering becoming a firefighter in the future. 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. If we had a good day of training, enjoy this, appreciate it, be grateful for this and stay present. I'm devastated about Ralph Boston's passing. 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. She gets a 12.400. Following a year and a half of turmoil, heartbreak and injury struggles, McClain, now 17, strung together eight strong routines over two days at the OOFOS U.S. The gymnastics that came so easily for so long to the precocious teenager had turned shaky . This is a blessing, Susan shared. Always has been, she just has a great personality and she's a good kid, Lorinda shared. "Like, there's . Ah! TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. Then the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were postponed a year, and a subsequent adjustment to the minimum-age requirement suddenly made her eligible. Also in qualifying, Beamon fouled his first two of three jumps, giving him one last chance to make the final. 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. I felt forced going into the gym. Besides gymnastics, Konnor is just your average teenager, getting her drivers permit and attending public schoolwell, as of two weeks ago at least. It was more, Wow. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Then the injuries began piling up. Sacrificing family time. From Konnors perspective, though it may look effortless, thats not quite how it feels. 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. 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. Back to her original timeline, McClain was making progress and qualified for her first world championships team last fall. Nevertheless, she gets a 13.750. She gets a 15.300. Laurie had fallen on her landing during warmups and hurt her knee. Instead, Jones who has faced hardships of her own this past year, and also lost her dad last December sat down on her dismount. At the 1968 Games, Boston broke his own Olympic record in qualifying by jumping 8.27 meters. A Look Back in Photos - 2019 U.S. Championships. After the first rotation, Sunis in second and MyKaylas in fourth. On vault, MyKayla has a solid landing, with a 14.975. Then, step-by-step she marched toward that goal. 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. Takahashi switched to ice dance after his singles farewell at the December 2019 Japanese Championships. At the end of it, I was like, How are people going to see me? College Gym News is your place for everything you need to know about collegiate gymnastics. Konnor McClain moves to WOGA. A national title? I literally thought that I was the most garbage gymnast ever, she said this week. 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.. "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. She then performed a balance beam routine in front of a studio audience. Five-Star Konnor McClain Commits to LSU for 2024 Season In a recent clip for Yahoo Sports, Shawn Johnson discussed the possibility of a rivalry between Simone Biles and Konnor McClain. A decision was made to pull the plug on 2021, which meant withdrawing from the national championships and Olympic trials. If youd like to watch along, the episodes are available here with a free Peacock account. Theyve decided to keep shooting for 2024 as their ultimate goal, especially as Konnor has already faced some serious setbacks this year, including foot surgery and a stomach infection that set her back about three months. The Media Needs to Stop Comparing Konnor McClain to Simone Biles That seemed to be the theme for many of the gymnasts at that meet. Its such a big difference being so confident and not being garbage anymore. I didnt really have the love for gymnastics, McClain said. It doesn't matter where are you're going to end up,' she said. Until then, I saw myself as just another local yokel, Boston, who called Owens a mentor and dear friend, said last year. So I had to take that all in and put her safety and health first. "If my dad dies, I die," she wrote on Snapchat in late December. 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. McClain had no idea, and even an hour later was still struggling to comprehend it. Konnor says until the pandemic started, things were good with her coach, Susan, and in the gym. Our kids had no choice. Outwardly, McClain was progressing nicely as a gymnast in early 2022, winning the all-around at the Winter Cup in Frisco, Texas, and the City of Jesolo Trophy, an international team event held in Italy. Long considered a star-to-be for the 2024 Olympic quad, McClain positioned herself as just that, all while competing at what she described as 70 to 75 percent of her true ability. Boston died Sunday morning after recently suffering a stroke, according to the Tennessean. We get an explanation as to why its so important that gymnasts peak at certain times, and how challenging that makes the sport. Well, I'm not going to say no to that, Susan shared, laughing. Konnors dad says the reason people dont like Valeri is because he pushes girls so hard, but why else would they be there. After the fall, the routine is solid. Creating a Level 10+ Focused Team Program (Finances / Coaching / Athlete Selection / Facility / Etc), Daughter just turned 11, wants to hit lvl 10. She left Revolution to be coached by Liukin Last years national championships were held in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from McClains new gym, which is known as WOGA. 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. We were working for 2024, so this kind of threw a wrench in our spokes.. The two gyms will be well represented in Louisville . He changed the game as an athlete, advocate and mentor. Even in Mommy and Me class, Konnor McClain was precocious. 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'
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