Late last December, the then-16-year-old elite gymnast Konnor McClain rushed to be with her father, Marc McClain, as he died of COVID-19. When she arrived at the hospital, pandemic protocols prevented her from saying goodbye or giving him one last hug, even after he died.
Days later, on Jan 2., McClain got a similar call. Her grandmother, Nisaa Seifullah, who was also hospitalized with COVID-19, died.
In the days and weeks that followed, uncertainty surrounded McClain’s gymnastics future. In 2021, she moved to Plano to train at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy with Valeri and Anna Liukin, the parents of Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin.
“After losing her dad in December, we weren’t sure how it all was going to translate into her gymnastics. It was very sudden and very tragic,” Anna Liukin said.
Following the deaths of father and grandmother, McClain could not focus on her intensive practice. Some days she could barely make it to the gym.
“I had so much trouble and my coaches were always there for me because I would go in crying sometimes, my eyes would just be swollen,” McClain said.
The Liukins encouraged McClain to compete in February, with the hope that getting back on the floor would lift her spirits.
McClain did. And just months after the tragic deaths of her father and grandmother, McClain won the all-around and balance beam titles at the Winter Cup.
Honoring her father, McClain competed with his initials stitched onto her leotard.
Anna Liukin says the win at the Winter Cup in February gave McClain the boost she needed to move forward.
“It was just like a switchover for me. I was happy that I finally got to compete, because I feel like it’s been so long just with my dad’s passing and everything like the time just extended longer and longer every day,” McClain said.
After the competition, McClain was assigned to Team USA to represent the States just two weeks later in Germany at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge and Mixed Cup. McClain helped Team USA win gold.
In April, McClain competed in Italy at the City of Jesolo Trophy, where she won the all-around and took gold on balance beam and floor exercise. She went on to win the all-around at the U.S. Championships in August.
McClain says she doesn’t really know how she made it through the dark days, but she knows now that one has to lean on those around them.
“It doesn’t always have to be you alone in your own world,” McClain said. “You have people to talk to and other people there for you, and they always help you no matter what. So just, really, don’t hold it all in and keep it all to yourself.”
McClain was not able to compete at the World Championship this fall due to a back injury. She is expected to compete next year and make it on Team USA at the Olympics in 2024.
McClain’s perseverance during unimaginable circumstances is inspirational. For her resilience and dedication to her goals, McClain is a finalist for Texan of the Year.
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17-year-old gymnast Konnor McClain can teach perseverance to us all
