Konnor McClain ended up being the 3rd ranked gymnast on the balance beam nationally after hating the discipline initially. Clinching the 2022 US Championships was a major boost for McClain. However, while she was an elite athlete, there were areas where McClain lagged. All of that would change when she decided to join LSU prematurely this season. Initially, the 19-year-old was supposed to join LSU after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. 

But she decided to start her first collegiate season prematurely and now she is a bigger star. Riding high on McClain’s impeccable performances this season, the LSU Tigers clinched the pole position in the second NCAA round in Fayetteville to confirm a spot at the regional finals. Speaking about her changed mindset now, McClain opened up in a recent interview, spilling the beans on her high-flying success. 

McClain doubles down on her time at the USA National Team

Sitting down in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Konnor McClain compared her mindset from last year. She elaborated that a year back, she was depressed and hated the idea of gymnastics. However, she credited her newly found love for gymnastics by coining the change as “I’m brighter now, there’s a light in me.” 

McClain credited her fellow teammate Aleah Finnegan for convincing her to return to college. While she started to find gymnastics “fun”, McClain also had to drastically alter her mindset to fit in. But in reality, her time with the LSU Tigers proved to be more therapeutic to her than anything else. Reflecting on her experience in LSU, the 2022 US Champion said, “I was like, ‘I kind of want to practice that.’ Me hating gymnastics is getting kind of old, so I practice loving the sport and just being happy to be there. It’s working.” 

Konnor McClain further went on to say that looking at her peers and how happy they were being involved in gymnastics, made her slowly make the change from within. Well, the change surely did happen and McClain almost single-handedly took LSU to the finals. 

A year to remember for Konnor McClain

McClain surprised the NCAA world when she scored her first perfect 10 of her collegiate career. Not only that, McClain’s red hot form also includes a mind-boggling eight-rotation beam and all-around score of 28.900 and 112.750, respectively, which helped her win the gold in Tampa. Performances like this became a norm and soon, McClain found herself ready to create an impact for LSU in the regional finals. 

Going forward, the teen sensation will be gearing up for the US Classics in May and ultimately for Paris in July. While speaking with Olympics.com, McClain stated, “The Olympics part [of my gymnastics] is for myself, that’s what the little girl in me wanted, [it’s] what I want now.” With Konnor McClain turning a new leaf this season, it will be interesting to watch whether she can fulfil her Olympic dreams come July 2024. 

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