Born on December 9, 1995 to Mike and Erin Maroney, McKayla was a natural gymnast.
“When I was younger, I would be watching Tarzan and running around on all fours. My mom was like ‘I need to put this child in gymnastics. She’s crazy.’”
At nine years old she moved to train at Gym-Max in Costa Mesa, California with the intent of winning Olympic Gold like her idol Carly Patterson. Although she displayed great skill from an early age, she was concerned that she might out-grow her Olympic dreams. “I thought, how am I going to stay this little? I was worried that I was going to be really tall because my dad is 6’3″ and my mom is 5’2″, so I didn’t know which one I was going to be.”
She has two siblings, Tarynn and Kav, and is home schooled to maintain her rigorous training schedule.
Visa 2012 Championships
During the Visa 2012 Championships, McKayla suffered a minor concussion and nasal fracture during warm ups. She still completed the Olympic Trials.
London 2012 Olympics
Despite a broken toe, McKayla is currently competing for Team USA in the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
The Future
McKayla, avoiding breaking bones, wants to continue training and competing.
2009
McKayla began her official competitive career in 2009 at the Visa Championships in Dallas, where she scored 104.800 and placed twenty-seventh in the all-around competition. She placed third in the vault finals, completing an Amanar, one of the most difficult to achieve vaults. At only thirteen years old, McKayla was excited and encouraged by her performance, saying that”I just did it, and I was just very happy that I landed on my feet.”
2010
Starting in 2010, McKayla began training at the All Olympia Gymnastics Center in Los Angeles, California with Artur Akopyan and Galina Marinova to maximize her potential. In a series of consecutive improving performances, she competed at the CoverGirl Classic in Chicago (Seventh Place), The Visa Championships in Connecticut (Third Place, First on Vault), and the Pan American Championships in Mexico (First in Vault and First on Floor).
2011
McKayla continued to train and compete in 2011 towards her dream of the London 2012 Olympics. She competed at and scored first place in the all-around competition at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy. In July she once again participated at the CoverGirl Classic in Chicago, placing sixth on the balance beam and fifth on floor.
At the Visa Championships in Minnesota she placed second in the all-around competition and first on the vault.
McKayla participated for Team USA in the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Her excellent performance on the vault and floor contributed to the team’s first place finish, with McKayla first on the vault.
2012
Starting with the new year, McKayla added a new maneuver to her vault routine. Known as a Mustafina, it consists of a round-off, half-on, full-twisting front layout. She still uses the Amanar as her primary vault.
McKayla re-visited Italy for the City of Jesolo Trophy. This year she placed third in the all around competition. She placed first on the vault at the Secret U.S. Classic in Chicago in May, and in June participated in the Visa Championships in Missouri. After the first day of competition, McKayla suffered an injury during warm ups. She fell during a tumbling pass and was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a minor concussion and a nasal fracture.
After a week break from training, McKayla petitioned and was allowed to compete at the Olympic Trials in San Jose, California.
Scoring first on the vault, fifth on the floor, and seventh all-around, McKayla was chosen as a member of the USA Team for the 2012 Summer Games. Accompanying her to London will be long-time best friend Kyla Ross, saying “it’s just so amazing. I’m in shock right now.”
During Olympic training McKayla aggravated a previous broken bone in her right foot, but still plans to compete for the vault. “Bad things happen, you just have to make the best of it.”
