Konnor McClain at LSU

[MaryClare]

Another McClain article from Olympics.com. Not sure why someone who never medalled at worlds or Olympics and hasn't completed elite since August 2022 warrants this much attention, but here we are.

https://olympics.com/en/news/usa-gymnastics-konnor-mcclain-transformation-interview

Has the average sports fan heard of Konnor McClain?

 

[Laura722]

Has the average sports fan heard of Konnor McClain?

The average sports fan (in the US) has only heard of Simone Biles and maybe Sunisa Lee. Oh, and Olivia Dunne.

 

[crdubb17]

Another McClain article from Olympics.com. Not sure why someone who never medalled at worlds or Olympics and hasn't completed elite since August 2022 warrants this much attention, but here we are.

https://olympics.com/en/news/usa-gymnastics-konnor-mcclain-transformation-interview

I mean she was the National champion two years ago. That counts for something, no?

 

[RedBirdie]

She's the least accomplished national champ in memory. Even Kristy Powell competed more routines at worlds and was a Pan Ams champion.

Jones, Blakely, Wong, DiCello, Chiles, Carey have all medalled at worlds since Tokyo and haven't received anywhere close to the level of coverage McClain has gotten.

 

[MaryClare]

She's the least accomplished national champ in memory. Even Kristy Powell competed more routines at worlds and was a Pan Ams champion.

Jones, Blakely, Wong, DiCello, Chiles, Carey have all medalled at worlds since Tokyo and haven't received anywhere close to the level of coverage McClain has gotten.

That’s what I don’t understand. From a media perspective, what’s the appeal of Konnor?

 

[Sasha]

That’s what I don’t understand. From a media perspective, what’s the appeal of Konnor?

Only thing I can think of is that she is on their radar due to the YouTube exposure she had as a kid. Maybe that's made her particularly memorable or "important" in their eyes relative to other athletes that have accomplished as much or more.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Not just YouTube. She was on the daytime talk show circuit (Ellen, Steve Harvey, etc.) at barely 11.

 

[Seyonne]

Wasn’t she also on a reality show?

 

[QuietColours]

I think she started media appearances as an up-and-coming star around 5. Poor kid.

 

[Laura722]

She's the least accomplished national champ in memory. Even Kristy Powell competed more routines at worlds and was a Pan Ams champion.

Jones, Blakely, Wong, DiCello, Chiles, Carey have all medalled at worlds since Tokyo and haven't received anywhere close to the level of coverage McClain has gotten.

This was an article by Scott Bregman, who just published an article on Trinity Thomas, who has never even won a Nationals. It's a short little article, big whoop. Scott has done pieces on those other gymnasts too.

 

[RichardL]

McClain might have an agent landing these spots for NIL opportunities. Journalism isn't always about what people are actually interested in, sadly, and this exposure can be bought.

 

[Passion]

It’s an online article on Olympics.com, not a people magazine spread lol.

Bregman probably has a quota of articles to turn in per week. There’s a finite amount of things to report on when 99% of athletes are just doing the same training all day every day. So you scrape together whatever you can get that people will still click on.

 

[MrSixkiller]

Does she even have a coach yet? She’s not seriously considering training with Jay Clark, is she?

 

[irichluck21]

She doesn't have a current FIG license...so hopefully she works on that soon if she is serious about Paris.

 

[MaryClare]

She doesn't have a current FIG license...so hopefully she works on that soon if she is serious about Paris.

Individuals can’t obtain FIG licences, they are obtained by national federations on behalf of athletes. The USAG way of doing things tends to be only current national team members have their licence renewed

 

[irichluck21]

I understand that, but USAG should be submitting athletes in contention or wish to be in contention for Paris. More so McClain should register for American Classic/US Classic.
If she doesn't make the national team at nationals, it will cut it close, should she be in contention at Trials.

 

[rlayt]

Connor was in “Golden: The Journey of USA’s Elites” which wasn’t technically a reality show. That was where we were introduced to her West Virgina coach and her tendency to puke a lot.

NBC already invested time in her. i want to quote Andy Memmel’s stop trying to make fetch happen.

 

[Laura722]

Nice article on Konnor. She's competing at the U.S. Classic meet coming up. Courtney McCool will be there as her coach. She sounds happy no matter what happens.

Konnor McClain finds happiness ahead of final push for Paris Olympics

The 2022 U.S. champion Konnor McClain is set to compete in her first elite competition in nearly two years, with Paris 2024 still the goal.

www.nbcolympics.com

 

[Passion]

Konnor McClain finds happiness ahead of final push for Paris Olympics

The 2022 U.S. champion Konnor McClain is set to compete in her first elite competition in nearly two years, with Paris 2024 still the goal.

www.nbcolympics.com

“Once I got up to the podium, "Bugs" (assistant coach Ashleigh Gnat) was like, ‘I’m going to stand over there. Go do your thing,’ McClain said. “So I take a deep breath before I go and I just settle into the beam; it’s just me and the beam in that arena.”

I love the nickname Bugs for someone with the last name Gnat lol.

 

[Aeris]

Can you imagine if she makes the team? Winning Nationals, then quitting elite and winning NCAA in her first season, and then right into the Olympics. #blessed