Forced Out of Elite Gymnastics, Konnor McClain Emerges as LSU Student-Athlete of the Month

In the ongoing NCAA gymnastics session, LSU started their journey, keeping Konnor McClain in the final lineup. The result was also spot on as the sophomore scored her first perfect ten on the beams against the opponent, Missouri. Though, the Tigers couldn’t win the tussle that evening. But for an artistic gymnast who chose college gymnastics over the elite counterpart, the scoring might have given an astounding feeling. 

Eventually, that achievement achieved a shoutout from the LSU side as well. After concluding the week on a high note, the Blue Tigers reserved the best place for Konnor McClain. LSU already has a star-studded repertoire featuring the likes of Olivia Dunne and others, and McClain is yet another mainstay on this illustrious list.

Konnor McClain’s allegiance to college gymnastics pays off nicely 

In the previous season, the LSU gymnast Konnor McClain had voted heavily to contest the college gymnastics. In that murky gray area, she had kept a question mark on trying elite gymnastics to appear in the Paris Olympics. Continuing with that mindset, the 18-year-old artistic gymnast started this NCAA season in the blue leotard on a high note. Previously, in mid-January, she attempted a perfect ten on bars. After that, the perfect ten against Missouri on beams lifted Konnor into the berth of a prized contention. On that matter, the LSU Academic Center posted on X, ““Success is never accidental” Our third January Student-Athlete of the Month is Konnor McClain from @LSUgym!” ”

The post captured Konnor McClain’s version as well, in her achievement. Expressing her wishes, the elated teenager added, “This recognition means so much to me because this was one of my goals when coming to college.” Eventually, it was the second title for Konnor McClain in this season. Previously, she received the title of the SEC Specialist of the Week for the perfect ten on bars. This kind of high-proportioned achievement evoked the question of McClain’s Olympic dream. 

The insatiable thirst for Olympics glory for McClain runs high 

Before the Tokyo Olympics, Konnor McClain harbored a hurried decision to pull off from elite gymnastics to wash away her Olympic dream at that time. Now around the Paris Olympics, Konnor McClain had claimed last year, “I’ll return to elite competition after the NCAA season next year.” Ultimately, she had an idea of owning different skills to stay on the elite gymnastics route. For that cause, the 2022 US all-around table topper received necessary tips and tricks from LSU teammates. In a recent conversation with the Olympics. com, she clarified on that. 

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“My number one goal is still the Olympics. To make that team… I’m still training some skills, so I gotta get back in that elite groove and elite skills and everything” was her version. So in that perspective, the recent performances panned out to be in place quite well.

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