Both Simone Biles and LSU’s Konnor McClain found unwavering support and guidance from their coaches during their potentially career-ending gymnastics scare. Simone Biles experienced the twisties in the 2020 Tokyo Games. Amid her recovery journey and beyond, she has been vocal about her coach Laurent Landi helping her overcome it.
For Konnor McClain, while her transition to collegiate gymnastics at LSU has been nothing short of remarkable, she had a rocky way to the top marred by a growth spurt. Her LSU collegiate coach Jay Clark has been a rock by her side through these times. These mentors played a pivotal role in preserving their hopes for the Paris Olympics 2024, turning their struggles into stories of success.
Konnor McClain and Simone Biles turn to their coaches during tough times
In an interview with NBC after LSU’s NCAA win, Konnor McClain spoke about her struggles with the full-out dismount off the uneven bars back routine that had been troubling her since an unexpected growth spurt. “I lost it and I just could not get it back,” McClain told NBC. “I got really scared of it. Once I came to school Jay (coach) was like, ‘We’re learning a dismount. That’s the first thing we’re going to do.’ After two weeks of going into the pit, I got my dismount!” McClain competed every weekend for three months, nearly triple what elite gymnasts do in a year. This boosted her confidence and reignited her joy in competing.
