Life has a funny way of throwing you a curveball when you least expect it, and for Olivia Dunne’s teammate Konnor McClain, that curveball came at the 2024 Core Hydration Classics. This 20-year-old gymnast, who plays a huge part in the LSU Tigers, helped her team snag their first-ever NCAA title, and everything seemed to be falling into place.
Her performance was looking like a highlight reel in the making, starting strong with a solid 14.2 on the beam. But just as quickly as she made the crowd cheer, disaster struck. During her floor warm-ups, McClain suffered a heartbreaking Achilles injury that shattered her Olympic dreams for Paris. The injury hit hard, not just physically, but emotionally.
Watching her walk off the floor, escorted by coaches, it was clear this wasn’t just a setback, but a serious blow to her plans. For McClain, it was another tough moment in a career that’s had its fair share of highs and lows. But since then, almost a year has passed, and McClain isn’t ready to call it quits. “I think about it all the time, and I don’t have an answer for you,” she said when asked about her Olympic future by Olympics.com. But the Nevada native writes her story, refusing to let her adversities have the last.
“But my story definitely isn’t over. And I remind myself of that every single day. Because every day I train inside the gym, it’s just like, ‘Okay, I still got it.’ That’s definitely motivating.” And if there’s one thing Olivia Dunne’s teammate knows, it’s that she’s got a lot more to give. Right now, her focus is on the LSU Tigers as they head into the NCAA finals, ready to defend their title.
“I’m going to finish the NCAA season and then see how my body feels,” she said, her commitment to complete the NCAA season before evaluating her physical state. McClain understands her path forward extends far beyond her current age of 20. Since her return to LSU, she has maintained an exceptional performance.
Olivia Dunne’s teammate shines in her comeback
When her recovery was complete, Konnor McClain returned to competition with LSU at their season opener in January 2025, delivering an impressive performance. The hard work and focused attention on small achievable goals led to her successful performances with 9.800 on uneven bars and 9.825 on balance beam. McClain has limited her competition to the uneven bars and beam, but she demonstrates no restraint in her performances. But time and again, she has faced setbacks!
The path McClain has walked to reach this position has shown no conformity to regular standards. The Tokyo Olympics gave McClain an unexpected chance to compete after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Games’ delay, which few gymnasts would ever experience. The season evolved into an arduous test of endurance after it should have been a straightforward path to the sporting event. But McClain faced difficulties at the U.S. Classic because she had to manage both technical challenges and intense competition standards.
The search for an appropriate training environment led her to switch gyms, which introduced additional uncertainty into her turbulent year. She withdrew from the U.S. Championships and Olympic Trials because she believed pursuing long-term growth and her physical and mental health were more important than competing for the Games. The difficult decision led to what became one of the most remarkable comebacks in her entire career.
But in 2022, Olivia Dunne’s teammate found her rhythm and claimed the U.S. title at the World Championships. Despite setbacks and injuries, McClain is back at it, proving that her story isn’t over. With her determination and work ethic, there’s no doubt she’s on track for even bigger things.
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