She has some wobbles and doesnt do her real dismount. McClain and Jones were followed in the U.S. Championships all-around standings by Tokyo Olympic team silver medalist Jordan Chiles, University of Florida freshman Kayla DiCello(who said at nationals that she did not plan to go for the world team) and Tokyo Olympic floor exercise championJade Carey. 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. Granted, Gabby switched her head coach within a closer time frame before Rio, but Christian had already been coaching her. Many events and activities were canceled, including the 2020 Olympic Games. So now, it's definitely a better feel. It doesn't matter where are you're going to end up,' she said. Not bad for an athlete nursing stress fractures in both shins and less than a month removed from a concussion suffered during training. 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. "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. A week later, her grandmother also passed. Slowly, she began the rebuilding process once again. Today were talking about the recently dropped episode five. McClain missed last months U.S. Classic, the main pre-nationals tune-up, while recovering from a concussion and stress fractures in both shins. Konnor is no outlier to the family trade - shes been athletically gifted since birth; sitting, crawling, and walking before her peers. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. I mean, she was in her meet mode, and I could just tell that's what she was doing. Konnor McClain competes during the women's floor exercise at the 2022 U.S. 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 just can't really explain it. Many people were intrigued by the video because at four years old, Konnor was practicing incredibly advanced skills for her age. Finally, McClain began to feel the weight of expectations, leaving her with a sense that she wasnt doing it for the right reasons anymore. So, I'm feeling really good about the next competitions and camps in the future.. Following in the footsteps of two of her cousins, Konnor is considering becoming a firefighter in the future. Its a hard task for a 17-year-old. 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. I mean, she loves my family. The family moved to West Virginia when McClain was 3. Remember your why, remember why you started, remember how proud you made your dad. I recognized Konnor's talent early on, and she's always been a super serious kid. Then the injuries began piling up. I was like, 'OK, then I got it.' 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. Ah! Join us as we recap each episode. So that was definitely fun for us, Lorinda said. The world of Olympic gold medalists is small. Now, it's getting a little bit less scary. She really held it together for me. Jordan Chiles finished third in her first elite meet since winning a silver in the team competition at the Tokyo Olympics. After a while, her parents noticed Konnor was easily doing skills that her older peers were still learning. Do their kids just hang around the gym all day? I barely know. Honestly, I'm not going to lie, [competing beam is] terrifying. Olympics delay provides rare opportunity for local gymnast in 2021 Theres a somber mood as the first night of championships. She's the one who wanted to do it. Susan's crazy, and she's been my friend for a long time. . Guess what? she said. Muramoto was a singles skater through her teens, then competed in the 2018 Olympics in dance with Chris Reed. On vault, MyKayla has a solid landing, with a 14.975. 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. 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. with a free Peacock account. 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. Sacrificing family time. 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. In 2018, he returned to singles skating after a four-year retirement. Even the best in the world cant do it sometimes and has to take a break. I was ready to quit gymnastics, McClain said. One gymnast, however, is not performing the way shes capable. The two gyms will be well represented in Louisville . I wasnt expecting this year to happen, so going into this year, it was hard on my mind, she said. The process seemed to be working. Last years national championships were held in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from McClains new gym, which is known as WOGA. Like, if Suni says it, then I can do it.. 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. She feels like Tom and the Olympic Committee always see her injured, so she may not seem reliable. Konnor says until the pandemic started, things were good with her coach, Susan, and in the gym. 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. He would be so proud of me, she said. I didnt want to compete., After the meet, what was supposed to be the beginning of a stellar Olympic journey felt like the end of her entire career. U.S. champion Konnor McClain will miss world championships After Almost Quitting Gymnastics, Konnor McClain - College Gym News In the final, Beamonsfirst jump was so far that the measuring device couldnt extend far enough to record it. 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. "I still think we're going to be able to pull through and have an amazing outcome,'' Chiles said. A lot. Everything. Goodbye candle mounts, multiple wolf turns, split leaps, and 1/2 jumps from . 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? 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. All signs were pointing her toward the Olympic Games Paris 2024 the first shed be eligible for based on her age. A committee will choose the five-woman world team after the selection camp. Sensing Beamons nerves, Boston told his younger teammate to move it back three feet with a cautious jump to avoid fouling, Beamon later said. Everyones experiences are different, and its important to remember that. Thousands of miles away as Marc clung to life on a ventilator, McClain was despondent. After the fall, the routine is solid. 2022 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The infection limited her to only two events at Winter Cup, which was supposed to be her senior debut. 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. TOP 9 why did konnor mcclain switch gyms BEST and NEWEST She left Revolution to be coached by Liukin She just is so self-driven that Konnor's going to make it work wherever she is., Though her coaching situation may be an unusual one, its certainly a perfect fit for her. It kind of took me a long time to get back into the groove of things. The 17-year-old announced Wednesday that a back injury will keep her out of the global meet. 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. Konnor McClain BB EF DTB Pokal Team Challenge 2022 14.033 (E - Reddit 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. When it comes to gymnastics, Konnor McClain never takes the conventional route to success. It wasn't an aha moment or anything like that. That seemed to be the theme for many of the gymnasts at that meet. 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. Rest with the greats. The thought of uprooting her family also weighed on her mind. Were just trying to get her back on track. Lorinda never imagined anyone else would be interested in watching her daughter do gymnastics, especially for ten minutes straight. This is so unbelievable right now, she said. 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. As recently as two weeks ago, it wasnt a given that McClain would even be ready for nationals. 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. 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. That was really good to see.. 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. She wore a small patch with the letters MM on the back of her leotard, a tribute to the painful reality shed been living. College Gym News is your place for everything you need to know about collegiate gymnastics. Beamon heeded the advice and advanced. 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. Three weeks later, Boston took gold at the Rome Olympics. why did konnor mcclain switch gyms - cottonzone.in 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. 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. The choice of taking a step back and prioritizing her physical and mental health was important for McClain. Shes pushed an unexpected run at the Games out of her mind, reverting back to what the plan had always been: Paris 2024. . Then, step-by-step she marched toward that goal. 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 had chosen to go to Valeri because of how helpful he was when she was in the development program. McClain, the 2019 U.S. junior all-around silver medalist, was originally too young for the Tokyo Olympics but became age-eligible when the Games were postponed one year to 2021. At the 1968 Games, Boston broke his own Olympic record in qualifying by jumping 8.27 meters. 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 her first camp, Konnor was 12 years old, and placed in a rotation group with Ragan Smith, Emma Malabuyo, and Maile OKeefe. 2006 - Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. As 2021 was winding down, tragedy struck U.S. gymnast Konnor McClain. Suni is up on bars. Devastated, McClain reached out to a friend, Tokyo 2020 Olympic all-around gold medallist Sunisa Lee, seeking comfort, advice, and guidance. 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. Boston leaped 8.21 meters, eight centimeters better than Owens. The first time when we were invited to National Team Camp, they asked me if I thought she was ready. Boston broke the mens long jump world record six times between 1960-65 and shared the record going into the 1968 Mexico City Games. [Top athletes] are pulling their coaches to the next level too, in a lot of ways. Her older sister Liv was on pre-team at the time, and everything Liv came home and did from class, Konnor mimicked. Your email address will not be published. Everybody needed to see thatevery gymnast and every girl, every human being in the world needed to see that, McClain said. Jumpers, Know his name!!! 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. Did the inspiration for Payson Keelers plot line come from the Skinner family? 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. "Golden" Episode 5 Recap - College Gym News 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. McClain had trained at the same gym, with the same coach, her whole career. Switching gyms with less than a month to go before Olympic Trials is not something you see often (ever?). Even in Mommy and Me class, Konnor McClain was precocious. 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. But I think one time she had a headache and missed a practice, and that's really the only time I can think of her missing a practice. Golden: The Journey of USAs Elite Gymnasts,, After Elite Heartbreak, Aleah Finnegan Is Ready for Fresh Start at LSU, The Transfer Portal: How It Works and How to Normalize It in Gymnastics, Looking Back at the Highs and Lows of the 2023 Season, Belgiums Margo Van Linden Looking Forward to Team Spirit at Western Michigan College Gym News, MyKayla Skinners Unusual Path to the Olympics Paved by Just Three Before Her 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.