Paris Olympics 2024 News: Forced Out Of Elite Gymnastics For Multiple Injuries, LSU Tigers Raise Another Olympic Hopeful

The Paris Olympics is currently the sole vision for athletes awaiting a spot in the games. Pre-games or Olympic trials; the path calls for a focused presence and a higher percentage of wins. For LSU Tiger, and rising gymnastics fame, Konnor McClain the stance does not defer. The 18-year-old, recovering from a grueling back injury over a year ago, has set her eyes on ‘proving her doubters wrong’.

Konnor McClain is known for her 2022 U.S. National Champions title and noticeable potential. Though a rough patch followed her, following her recognizable success, McClain’s ambitions have set her on a path to becoming yet another Olympic hopeful on the LSU gymnastics team, following Aleah Finnegan.

LSU Tigers have another Olympics hopeful in the midst

Konnor McClain’s multiple injuries had forced the rising star into hiatus for a good whole year. The missing out included the 2022 World Championships and further the 2023 elite season. However, now having established herself back on mats at the ongoing NCAA meets, the gymnast is looking hopeful of the chances ahead. “My number one goal is still the Olympics,” she told Olympics.com. “To make that team… I’m still training some skills, so I gotta get back in that elite groove and elite skills and everything.”

The 18-year-old suffered back-to-back injuries soon after claiming her Champions title in 2022. One of them involved a back injury leading to surgery and about 6 weeks off the mats. It was further trailed along by a hand injury, keeping her off the vaults and the bars. The comeback after ages instilled doubt in the youngster regarding her gymnastics skills. However, making it back to the LSU Team last fall, McClain found her groove and the love the sport held for her.

The rising gymnastics star proves worthy of the title

“I need a team to support me and just to be happier and love gymnastics again,” were Konnor’s thoughts when she couldn’t find her groove in the sport. And with Aleah Finnegan’s backing, the gymnast made her way back to LSU to find the perfect setting. “This is everything I needed,” she says and her performances at the meets so far have stood a testament.

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In the 2nd meet of LSU and Konnor in Utah, the LSU freshman recorded a perfect 10 on the bars. The performance made McClain just the seventh gymnast in LSU history to earn the score. A week before, she earned a 9.825 on bars and an 8.95 after falling on beam. She recovered once again in the 3rd meet against Kentucky marking, 9.875 on bars. The evening, she took on 3 apparatus garnering the recogition of head coach and the gymnastics enthusiasts ahead. With right start on board, McClain will look for a continued momentum.