The night she got home from Classic, she cleared everything out of her locker, which is commemorated in a TikTok, obviously. It has been a long year, Lorinda McClain said. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Konnor McClain's abusive former coaches are on Reddit? All Rights Reserved. So we just thought that would be best physically and mentally to withdraw her and focus more on the future and what our initial path was. For her family, this was no surprise. Join us as we recap each episode. She gets a 15.300. "We're just trying to get her back on track. I [felt] like I needed a change because [my gym] wasnt good for my head. In 2018, he returned to singles skating after a four-year retirement. 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. MyKaylas nieces, nephew, sister, husband and mom are with her in the gym. For Susan, the meet was memorable for an entirely different reason. She really held it together for me. Guess what? she said. Always has been, she just has a great personality and she's a good kid, Lorinda shared. When McClain arrived, Anna Liukin remembers finding a teenager nursing ankle injuries and her confidence level completely down. I just wanted to give you this just so you have something to remember him and just to know that he's right there with you, explained McClain. Konnor McClain, U.S. gymnastics champion, to miss world championships Well, huh. We're trying to be on pace for 2024. 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. 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. Olympics delay provides rare opportunity for local gymnast in 2021 My best friends, my rocks, my twins, and the best dad and grandma I couldve asked for decided to say their goodbyes this past week, McClain wrote on Instagram at the time. College Gym News was founded in 2015 by Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Grimsley. I was like, Oh my gosh, what do I do now? And then each day, I was like, Oh my gosh, this is actually real.. Jumpers, Know his name!!! You would have never known. Winter Cup Live Blog | Balance Beam Situation At least one woman who turned 16 or younger in the Olympic year made the last 10 U.S. Olympic teams. 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. 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. I'm devastated about Ralph Boston's passing. "Like, there's . Konnor says until the pandemic started, things were good with her coach, Susan, and in the gym. The other five later won Olympic and/or world all-around titles, the most recent Simone Biles. As a teenager, Konnor makes me feel SEEN. Turns out she was right - Konnors older brother Cole played college football, her older sister Liv plays college softball at Niagara University, and her younger brother plays for California Baseball Academy. 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. TOP 9 why did konnor mcclain switch gyms BEST and NEWEST Konnor McClain (born February 1, 2005) is an American artistic gymnast and a convicted criminal for a hit and run case involving teammate Hezly Rivera in a woga parkinglot, she is also a member of the United States women's national gymnastics team. She's really like a sister to me, Susan shared, making Konnors coaching experience more like a family one. She starts crying, hates everything, and at the end of the meet, even thinks of quitting gymnastics for good. Through Turmoil, Heartbreak And Injuries, Konnor McClain Is Back On The That was really good to see.. An ankle injury delayed her preparation and left her unable to compete consistently in the all around. She's the one who wanted to do it. In the final, Beamonsfirst jump was so far that the measuring device couldnt extend far enough to record it. Were just trying to get her back on track. 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. Ah! His first retirement came after placing sixth at his third Olympics in 2014. Konnor speaks more to the struggle of growing up in West Virginia and with white people saying racist things around her. Konnor McClains Olympic year was not supposed to go this way. If youd like to watch along, the episodes are available. TAMPA, Fla. -- Konnor McClain arrived in Texas last spring adrift, her confidence shattered. He died in late December. A national title? She amazes me that everything she does is tight with pointed toes. She committed to an elite schedule that she hopes will take her to the world championships this fall and eventually to Paris 2024, and she chose LSU as her future NCAA team. I wasnt really having a good time anymore, so by the time I got to Classics, I was so over it and I felt so done. Her grandma passed less than a week later. I'm wondering whether she was crying because a) she was unhappy at Revolution (and the WOGA move is a response to that). "You know, to fall twice and still end up in second place, this just really only the beginning for me.''. Today were talking about the recently dropped episode five. 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? Everybody needed to see thatevery gymnast and every girl, every human being in the world needed to see that, McClain said. The gymnastics that came so easily for so long to the precocious teenager had turned shaky. 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. 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. Boston was reportedly an inspiration for Beamon, having spoken in front of Beamon and his classmates in a high school gym in 1964. Slowly, she began the rebuilding process once again. Follow on . It has been a long year," Lorinda McClain said. I mean, she loves my family. 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. McClain never gave the lead back, though there were some nail-biting moments late. I've actually recently started going back to school, which has been good, and finding new friends, Konnor shared. That includesKyla Ross, the 2011 U.S. junior all-around silver medalist who made the 2012 Olympic team. That's my number one priority, Susan shared. It was easy to end my career, in 1968, Boston said. What Susan and Konnor decided to do about the news was also unexpected. 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. She's a little older and can handle more, Lorinda shared. 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. I started hating everything at that point., During that time, she was also filming Peacocks documentary Golden: The Journey of USAs Elite Gymnasts, and she was in such low spirits she was worried about the way she would come across. 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. 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. Instead, she performed wearing a patch with his initials on it, dedicating her performance to her biggest supporter. 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. On vault, shes focused on perfecting her double twist and working an Amanar. Besides gymnastics, Konnor is just your average teenager, getting her drivers permit and attending public schoolwell, as of two weeks ago at least. By Chrs McDougall | The Media Needs to Stop Comparing Konnor McClain to Simone Biles However, Susan often brought up outside topics like Donald Trump or things happening in China, instead of being focused on gymnastics. His first retirement came after placing sixth at his third Olympics in 2014. Just because Konnor hasnt experienced what other gymnasts have, doesnt mean he is like that with every other athlete. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Sensing Beamons nerves, Boston told his younger teammate to move it back three feet with a cautious jump to avoid fouling, Beamon later said. Shes really taught me, and shes really built me up all the way from developmental camp, said McClain. So sometimes we drive Konnor crazy, Lorinda shared, laughing. 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. She had reached out to me and asked me how did I stay motivated when my dad had his accident? 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. People are going to hate me Because I wasnt even acting like myself.. Aug. 22, 2022, 3:19 p.m. (ET). As recently as two weeks ago, it wasnt a given that McClain would even be ready for nationals. The U.S. has won every world team title dating back to 2011 and won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 before taking silver in Tokyo. The news left McClain overwhelmed. Almost two months to the day of her fathers passing, McClain entered her first event of the 2022 season, the Winter Cup Challenge. Konnor McClain competes during the women's balance beam at the 2022 U.S. It appeared for most of Jones' polished bars set that she was ready to slip by McClain. Maybe I cant do it all the time, maybe Im not perfect all the time. As a child I idolized him and he was a major influence in my life. Though McClain had some uncharacteristic struggles on beam and missed one of her skills, her lead held up going into the final rotation. The reason Susan has been able to coach Konnor through her gymnastics career is that its such a small program, unlike some larger more acclaimed gyms. At least until her dismount, which Jones underrotated, forcing her to sit on the mat, her hopes of a national championship gone. So that was a shocker. I think its considered a big deal because: Real data on college teams put together by mezzamare! Konnors mom held out hope that things would get better since she was friends with Susan, but it didnt. This was an easy decision for the family. Sunis family would fundraise for Suni to compete by selling T-shirts and doing a banquet where theyd invite friends and family. McClain, 17, was due to vie for a spot on the five-woman world team at a selection camp in two weeks. Until then, I saw myself as just another local yokel, Boston, who called Owens a mentor and dear friend, said last year. Like what you see? Konnor McClain rallies to victory at U.S. gymnastics championships 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. Outside of gymnastics, shes most excited about getting to watch her sister play college softball. Randy, her husband, says he did talk politics in the gym. Leanne Wong, who claimed silver in the all-around at the world championships last fall, overcame a foot injury to put together two graceful sets on bars and beam. Switching gyms with less than a month to go before Olympic Trials is not something you see often (ever?). It was more, Wow. Ukraine boycotts judo worlds after Russians, Belarusians allowed as neutrals. Konnor is no outlier to the family trade - shes been athletically gifted since birth; sitting, crawling, and walking before her peers. Did the inspiration for Payson Keelers plot line come from the Skinner family? Its the GK U.S. Classic in Indianapolis. This wasnt our initial goal anyway to do Trials or Olympics this year. It was just meant to be that way. The two gyms will be well represented in Louisville . Granted, Gabby switched her head coach within a closer time frame before Rio, but Christian had already been coaching her. Konnor says that people only focus on the bad things about Valeri from the past, but everyone she knows likes him now. McClain, who turned 16 on Feb. 1, won the U.S. junior all-around silver medal in 2019. This is your anonymous test thread reply now and try it out! I really want to do it for myself, she said, and for that little 11-year-old girl who wanted it, too., READ THIS NEXT: After Elite Heartbreak, Aleah Finnegan Is Ready for Fresh Start at LSU. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "afcfd5a3b9b326283a000c1a4a0b73d7" );document.getElementById("af034859ed").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. Id won a gold, silver and a bronze in that order. The Liukins are well-known in the sport. 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. Like what you see? When I started filming it, I felt I wasnt even myself In the gym, I was so down, and I looked so dead, McClain said. "I felt forced going into the gym. The gymnastics that came so easily for so long to the precocious teenager had turned shaky . Konnor McClain competes at the 2019 U.S. 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. PLANO Konnor McClain wanted to quit. Konnor McClain rallies past Shilese Jones in finals to claim first U.S I didnt want to, but I was so done. 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. I'll miss his voice and support. Gymnastics Championships on Aug. 21, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. Coming into Tampa, she cautiously listed her goal as simply hitting her routines. There were other milestones too, such as her first National Team Camp. In August 1960, Boston broke Owens world record in the long jump that stood since 1935. 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? She was interested in four other schools, she revealed, including Georgia, Utah and Oklahoma, and it was a very hard decision in the end.. And then just whatever comes after that, but definitely World Championships later in the year. McClain posted a two-day total of 112.750, just ahead of Shilese Jones at 111.900. 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. Having grown since then, one thing that Lorinda and Susan can attest to is that her perfectionism and attention to detail has stayed consistent. The team won't be selected until mid-October. Sacrificing family time. On floor theyre working on a double layout full out, and she competed her two and a half twist through to a double pike at camp. I'll miss his voice and support. Laurie helps like she needs to redeem herself from her Classic performance before championships. In the few months she spent at WOGA, McClain has already made two important decisions. It wasn't an aha moment or anything like that. McClains journey still has a long way to go. She doesn't talk a lot still, but it's so good that Susan knows her. Most gymnasts dont suddenly find out theyre eligible for the Olympics a year before Trials, something else that keeps Konnor off the traditional gymnastics path. Why did konnor McClain leave her gym? 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. She wore a small patch with the letters MM on the back of her leotard, a tribute to the painful reality shed been living. And on top of that, she's super smart, very intelligent, makes corrections quickly, just really has the whole package.. Its starting to feel real. Muramoto was a singles skater through her teens, then competed in the 2018 Olympics in dance with Chris Reed. Most gymnasts change coaches frequently as they move through levels until they start working with their elite coach, but Susan Brown has coached Konnor since she was three years old. Were at the championships in Fort Worth, Texas. It was only a matter of time before someone would invite this comparison. 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. Her unconventional path started when an infamous video of Konnor became well-known in the gymnastics community completely by accident. In a split second, her Olympic dream was just 12 months down the road. @simone_biles@usagym@gymnastics pic.twitter.com/BwLgNiOLXd, It's just something that we weren't expecting, Lorinda explained. 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.. Susan and Lorinda have been friends since grade school, working at the local pool, doing gymnastics together, and going to college and cheerleading together. 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. 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.. That seemed to be the theme for many of the gymnasts at that meet. In March 2020, Reed died of a sudden cardiac issue at age 30. 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 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. Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy and All-American, How Would Other Elite Gymnasts Describe Her: Competitive, Hardworking, Funny. Konnor McClain Rallies to Claim US Gymnastics National Title There, McClain is planning to compete in the all around for the first time since March and hopes to end her year at worlds in Kitakyushu, Japan. It kind of took me a long time to get back into the groove of things. In agreement with her new coach, she decided to withdraw from the Olympic process and resume her original plan, preparing step by step for 2024. It's a goal that appears in reach if she can build on two days that showcased her power, precision and maturity. At one point last spring, she felt she was "the most garbage gymnast ever." On vault, MyKayla has a solid landing, with a 14.975. It felt like he was there actually just with the patch there. Her gymnastics, she said, was garbage. Her confidence shattered. She began walking the balance beam and doing backbend kickovers before age 2, mimicking her 4-year-old sister. 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. 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. Lauries watching Charlotte Drury train on trampoline. I recognized Konnor's talent early on, and she's always been a super serious kid. I was like, 'OK, then I got it.' Ongoing problems at her gym exacerbated, making her struggle with motivation. MyKayla talks about how she didnt like gymnastics as a kid, but her mom kept her in it. . 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.