Konnor McClain at LSU

[RedBirdie]

Konnor's been playing the social media game for years now. I posted upthread that she has to keep saying she's aiming for Paris to keep the endorsement/NIL dollars coming in. Shit, spring and well into summer 2023 she was proclaiming she was going to nationals and aiming for worlds, despite every other post on social media clearly indicating she was done with elite.

it's Shawn Johnson 2012 all over again.

The schedule is not very forgiving this year. NCAA nationals finish April 18, American Classic is April 25. Konnor is chronically injured and hasn't competed an elite routine since August 2022. I'll believe she intends to do elite when I see her at an elite meet. But right now, I'm betting she doesn't.

 

[makam]

I don't see Alicia and Chellsie picking a 1 eventer whose event is beam. A 1 eventer who does FX, maybe...

 

[Hatsumomo]

Especially when there are at least three potential beam specialists who are TF/EF-worthy on that and other events.

 

[irichluck21]

I don't see Alicia and Chellsie picking a 1 eventer whose event is beam.

And who usually falls off this one event 50ish% of the time.

 

[GLeigh]

LSU has Liv Dunne too. I wonder if they have a team atmosphere?

Obviously documentaries like The Climb will portray things in a positive light, but after watching it last year, I definitely had a more positive impression of their team dynamic. Of all the schools who have done similar, LSU's was definitely the best. I don't think there's ever been any rumours of divisions with Livvy, and Konnor never really seems to have had a good support network, so if LSU is genuinely tight-knit, it could be a really good thing for her and perhaps extend to her gymnastics. Hope so at least, for all involved!

 

[cuuf]

My inside source, the vibe is cliquish, not in a sniping catty way, just that there were groups on the team, while they supported each other in practice and competition, they kinda go their own ways after and outside the gym. I think maybe because they are such a senior/super-senior laden group, there genuinely is a gap of interests and obviously income levels that make it hard to relate. This is not a tight team, even though I know they positively support each other in their gymnastics and all want to succeed, if that makes sense.

 

[RedBirdie]

Honestly, that seems healthier than the "we do everything together every single second of the day, we're they very bestest of friends!" cultish atmosphere of many teams.

 

[rlayt]

Yeah it’s only natural that groups where women with more in common would form.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I don't see Alicia and Chellsie picking a 1 eventer whose event is beam. A 1 eventer who does FX, maybe...

Indeed not.

Whatever other criticisms might've been levelled at the Olympic qualification procedures last quad, they did at least allow us a level of speculation about one eventers that we hadn't really been able to enjoy post 08. I feel confident that if the same rules were still in place, at least one of us would've managed to become truly convinced that Konnor was in the running. It would've been great.

 

[RedBirdie]

Konnor says she intends to compete at US Classic.

https://olympics.com/en/news/konnor-mcclain-us-classic-yamaguchi-sara-injury-gymnastics

 

[irichluck21]

Not sure how she is definitely going to compete at US Classic. She hasn't qualified yet.

 

[RedBirdie]

It's been whispered that past national team members can skip automatically to classics.

 

[Passion]

Senior qualification criteria to 2024 American and US Classics:

Petition criteria for 2024 American and US Classics:

Petitions on page 102: https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Women/Rules/Rules and Policies/2023/rulespolicies.pdf

 

[irichluck21]

Right. She would need to petition. Which would likely get accepted.

However, as of right now she is not part of the group that is currently qualified.

 

[Laura722]

Her chances don't look good to make the team, but I am looking forward to seeing her compete elite again for a little bit. I love watching her in NCAA.

 

[RichardL]

Her chances don't look good to make the team, but I am looking forward to seeing her compete elite again for a little bit. I love watching her in NCAA.

If "the team" is the Olympic team, she has absolutely zero chances aside from beating Simone Biles in the AA at Trials, but yes, it would be nice to see her do something seemingly on her own terms.

 

[lovegymnasts]

If "the team" is the Olympic team, she has absolutely zero chances aside from beating Simone Biles in the AA at Trials, but yes, it would be nice to see her do something seemingly on her own terms.

 

[cuuf]

Im sorry, maybe its my dislike of LSU, but I'm so over about caring how she likes to tease the internet with crap like this. Honestly in some ways its insulting/arrogant to the other gymnasts who have taken the olympic year run seriously by either deferring school or modifying their training during ncaa. She is very good, but no Simone Biles. But then again, I dont hold too many at LSU in high regard so maybe Im just blinded, but I will at least admit that.

 

[Dex]

I agree, she is very overrated

 

[RedBirdie]

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