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Konnor McClain

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Konnor McClain
McClain at the 2019 Junior World Championships
Personal information
Full nameKonnor McClain
Country represented United States
Born (2005-02-01) February 1, 2005 (age 19)
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
HometownCross Lanes, West Virginia USA
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
Years on national team2018–2023 (USA)
ClubPacific Reign Gymnastics
College teamLSU Tigers (2024–27)
Head coach(es)Cale Robinson
Assistant coach(es)Stephanie Gentry
Former coach(es)Valeri Liukin
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Junior World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Győr Team
Representing Louisiana State Tigers
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Fort Worth Team

Konnor McClain (born February 1, 2005) is an American artistic gymnast and a member of the United States women's national gymnastics team. She is the 2022 U.S National Champion and was the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy and the 2019 U.S. Classic Junior All-Around Champion.

Early life

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McClain was born to Marc and Lorinda McClain in 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has three siblings.[1] Her family moved to West Virginia when she was three years old.[2] She trains at Gymcats in Henderson, Nevada under coach Valeri Liukin.[3]

Junior gymnastics career

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2015–16

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In 2015 McClain was part of the Junior Olympic Program and competed at various HOPEs competitions. She competed at the 2015 HOPES Championships where she placed second on balance beam, behind Ciena Alipio, fourth in the all-around, fifth on vault, and seventh on floor exercise. In 2016 she competed the 2016 Hopes Championships where she placed first in the all-around, on vault, balance beam, and uneven bars, and second on floor exercise.

2017–18

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In 2017 McClain qualified for junior elite status at the Brestyans National Qualifier.[4] She also competed at the KPAC National Qualifier and the Parkettes National Qualifier. She made her elite debut at the American Classic where she place 21st in the all-around.[5] In late July she competed at the 2017 U.S. Classic where she placed 24th in the all-around, tying with Kayla DiCello.[6]

In early 2018 McClain competed at the Buckeye National Qualifier and International Gymnix, where she won silver on floor exercise behind Irina Alexeeva. In early July, she competed at the American Classic where she placed second in the all-around behind Kayla DiCello.[7] Later that month she competed at the 2018 U.S. Classic where she only competed three events but won bronze on the uneven bars behind DiCello and Jordan Bowers.[8] In August McClain competed at the 2018 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships. She finished in fifth place in the all-around and won gold on balance beam. As a result she was added to the national team for the first time.[9]

2019

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In February, McClain was named to the team to compete at the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, alongside Kayla DiCello, Ciena Alipio, and Sophia Butler.[10] While there she helped the USA win team silver behind Russia and individually she won gold in the all-around, ahead of Russian Vladislava Urazova, and on vault ahead of Russian Viktoria Listunova and teammate Alipio. She also won bronze on uneven bars, behind Urazova and Russian Elena Gerasimova and on floor exercise behind Listunova and Urazova.[11]

In June McClain competed at the Junior World Championships Trials where she placed fourth in the all-around and was named as the alternate for the inaugural Junior World Championships.[12] In July she competed at the U.S. Classic where she won gold in the all-around, on vault, and on balance beam.[13]

In August McClain competed at the U.S. National Championships. After the first day of competition she recorded a score of 56.500 and was in first place.[14] During the second day of competition scored a 56.100, giving her a total combined score of 112.600 which won her the silver medal in the all-around behind Kayla DiCello. McClain won gold on balance beam, silver on vault behind DiCello, and silver on uneven bars behind Olivia Greaves, and placed sixth on floor exercise. She was added to the junior national team.[15]

2020

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In March McClain was selected to compete at International Gymnix, taking place in Montreal alongside Skye Blakely, Kaliya Lincoln, and Katelyn Jong.[16] While there she helped the USA win team gold and individually she won silver in the all-around behind Blakely and gold in all four event finals.[17]

Senior gymnastics career

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2021

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In 2020 it was announced that gymnasts born in 2005, including McClain, would be eligible for the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Previously only gymnasts born in 2004 and earlier had been eligible.

McClain made her senior debut at the 2021 Winter Cup, in which she competed on vault and beam. She earned the third highest score on vault and finished fourth on beam.[18] McClain was one of five gymnasts featured on the Peacock docuseries Golden: The Journey of USA's Elite Gymnasts.[19] 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.[20] She subsequently announced she would not compete at the US National Championships or the Olympic Trials, ending her bid for the 2020 Olympics and returning her focus to 2024.[21]

In August McClain verbally committed to compete for the LSU Tigers gymnastics team.[22]

In October McClain was selected to compete at the 2021 World Championships alongside Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, and eMjae Frazier. As a result she was re-added to the national team.[23] At the World Championships McClain finished eighth on balance beam during qualifications; however she did not advance to the event final due to teammates Wong and DiCello scoring higher.

2022

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McClain competed at the 2022 Winter Cup and won the all-around competition ahead of Skye Blakely and eMjae Frazier. As a result she was selected to compete at the upcoming DTB Pokal Team Challenge in Stuttgart alongside Blakely, Frazier, Nola Matthews, and Ashlee Sullivan.[24] At the DTB Pokal Team Challenge McClain helped team USA win gold. Individually she won gold on balance beam and silver on floor exercise behind Angela Andreoli. In April McClain competed at the 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy alongside Frazier, Shilese Jones, Zoe Miller, and Elle Mueller. Together they won the team event with score 164.065. Individually McClain won all-around title with a score of 54.999 and also took the gold medal on balance beam (13.850) and floor exercise (13.900).[25]

In August McClain competed at the National Championships. She finished first in the all-around and on balance beam, fourth on floor exercise, and eighth on uneven bars.[26]

2024

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McClain made her elite return at the Core Hydration Classic. She started on balance beam and scored a 14.200 to win the bronze medal behind Sunisa Lee and Simone Biles. While warming up on floor exercise McClain suffered an Achilles tendon injury and withdrew from the remainder of the competition.[27]

Collegiate gymnastics career

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2023–24 season

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McClain originally intended to start competing for the LSU Tigers after the 2024 Summer Olympics. However in July 2023 McClain announced that she would instead start during the 2023–2024 school year while still pursuing making the Olympic team.[28][29] She made her debut for the Tigers on January 5, 2024 in a meet against Ohio State.[30] The following week, at a quad meet against Oklahoma, UCLA, and Utah, McClain earned her first perfect 10 on the uneven bars.[31] On January 26, in an away meet against Mizzou, McClain earned her second career perfect 10 and first on the balance beam.[32] At the SEC Championships on March 23, McClain earned her second perfect 10 on the balance beam, claiming the SEC title on the event and helping LSU win the SEC team title.[33] At the NCAA Championships, she contributed scores on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, helping LSU win their first national championship in program history.[34]

Career perfect 10.0

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Season Date Event Meet
2024 January 13, 2024 Uneven bars Sprouts Collegiate Quad
January 26, 2024 Balance beam LSU @ Missouri
March 23, 2024 Balance beam SEC Championships

Regular season rankings

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Season All-Around Vault Uneven Bars Balance Beam Floor Exercise
2024 N/A N/A 55th 3rd 59th

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2017 American Classic 21 11 6 34 17
U.S. Classic 24 26 43 12 27
2018 International Gymnix 14 4 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
American Classic 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7
U.S. Classic 11 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 23
U.S. National Championships 5 9 4 1st place, gold medalist(s) 9
2019 City of Jesolo Trophy 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Jr. World Championships Trials 4
Junior World Championships 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)[a]
U.S. Classic 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 12 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4
U.S. National Championships 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6
2020 International Gymnix 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Senior
2021 Winter Cup 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4
U.S. Classic 34 29
World Team Trials 4
2022 Winter Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
DTB Pokal Team Challenge 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
City of Jesolo Trophy 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
U.S National Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 8 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4
2024 U.S. Classic 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
NCAA
2024 SEC Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NCAA Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 12 16 10
  1. ^ McClain was the team USA alternate

References

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  1. ^ "Konnor McClain". USA Gymnastics.
  2. ^ "Konnor McClain, rising U.S. gymnast, focuses on 2024 Olympic cycle". NBC Sports. June 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "From Plano to world championships: Elite gymnast Konnor McClain's abrupt move to WOGA 'all worth it'". Dallas News. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  4. ^ "2017 Brestyan's National Qualifier Results". The Gymternet. February 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "2017 American Classic Results". The Gymternet. July 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "2017 U.S. Classic Results". The Gymternet. July 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "American Classic Hopes Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. July 7, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "2018 GK U.S. Classic Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. July 28, 2018.
  9. ^ "2018 U.S. Championships - Women Day 2 Meet Results - Multi" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. August 19, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "USA Gymnastics announces women's spring international team assignments". USA Gymnastics. February 24, 2019. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "USA wins senior team title at 2019 Jesolo Trophy, captures 14 other medals". USA Gymnastics. March 3, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "2019 U.S. Junior Worlds Trials Results". The Gymternet. June 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Biles, McClain win all-around titles at 2019 GK U.S. Classic". USA Gymnastics. July 20, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  14. ^ "Biles leads women's all-around at mid-point of 2019 U.S. Championships". USA Gymnastics. July 9, 2019. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Biles soars to sixth U.S. women's all-around title at 2019 U.S. Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 11, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "U.S. women to compete in 2020 Gymnix International". USA Gymnastics. March 3, 2020. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "USA wins senior and junior team titles, 10 individual titles at 2020 Gymnix International". USA Gymnastics. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  18. ^ "2021 Winter Cup Senior Women Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  19. ^ "Peacock Lays Out Olympics "Destination" With Live Shows, Five New Channels, Original Programming". Deadline Hollywood. June 23, 2021.
  20. ^ "Konnor McClain, rising U.S. gymnast, focuses on 2024 Olympic cycle". NBC Sports. June 2, 2021.
  21. ^ OlympicTalk (2021-06-02). "Konnor McClain, rising U.S. gymnast, focuses on 2024 Olympic cycle". OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  22. ^ "Five-Star Konnor McClain Commits to LSU for 2024 Season". College Gym News. August 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Olympic alternates DiCello, Wong headline U.S. team for 2021 Women's Artistic World Championships". USA Gymnastics. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "World team members Frazier, McClain headline women's contingent for upcoming DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup in Stuttgart". USA Gymnastics. March 1, 2022.
  25. ^ "U.S. athletes earn 14 medals, six gold, on final day of 2022 City of Jesolo Trophy". USA Gymnastics. April 10, 2022.
  26. ^ "McClain reigns at the 2022 OOFOS U.S. Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. August 21, 2022.
  27. ^ "LSU gymnast Konnor McClain suffers Achilles tendon injury during pre-Olympic meet". NOLA.com. May 18, 2024.
  28. ^ "U.S. Champion Konnor McClain To Join LSU Gymnastics". LSU Tigers. July 13, 2023.
  29. ^ "Konnor McClain to miss U.S. gymnastics meets after hand surgery". NBC Sports. July 13, 2023.
  30. ^ "Gymnastics Defeats No. 14 Ohio State In Opening Night, 196.975-196.775". LSU Tigers. January 5, 2024.
  31. ^ "Gymnastics Finishes Second in Sprouts Collegiate Quad; Tops No. 2 Utah, No. 12 UCLA". LSU Tigers. January 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Despite another perfect 10 from Konnor McClain, LSU gymnastics loses meet at Missouri". The Advocate. January 26, 2024.
  33. ^ "2024 SEC Gymnastics Championships Recap: LSU wins it all". Gymnastics Now. March 24, 2024.
  34. ^ "LSU women take home NCAA gymnastics title for first time". ESPN. April 20, 2024.
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