McKenna Kelley explained

McKenna Kelley
Fullname:McKenna Lane Kelley
Birth Date:1997 4, mf=yes
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, United States
Discipline:WAG
Level:Collegiate gymnast
Club:Stars Gymnastics Training Center
Collegeteam:LSU Tigers (Class of 2019)
Headcoach:Dan Baker, Ashly Baker
Retired:April 25, 2019
Show-Medals:yes

McKenna Lane Kelley (born April 15, 1997) is a retired American artistic gymnast.

Early life

McKenna Kelley was born on April 15, 1997, in Houston, Texas. She is the second of four children of Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton and former Texas Longhorns quarterback Shannon Kelley. Her older sister Shayla competed for the Baylor University Acrobatics and Tumbling team, her younger sister Skyla is a competitive cheerleader,[1] and her younger sister Emma has competed with the University of Arkansas gymnastics team since 2020.[2]

Career

Level 10

Kelley placed 5th in the all-around at the 2013 J.O. Nationals in the Junior D age division.[3] In 2014, she was the Nastia Liukin Cup co-champion with Mackenzie Brannan.

Kelley briefly trained as an elite gymnast and was invited to a few U.S. National team camps in 2015.[4] She attended the USA Gymnastics training camp for the selection of the 2015 Pan American Games but did not make the team.[5]

College

2016

Kelley joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in the 2016 season. She specialized in the floor exercise, competing in 13 of 14 meets. At the SEC Championship, she posted a season-high score of 9.925 to help the Tigers win the team title; she also earned SEC All-Freshman honors.[6]

At the Super Six team finals of the 2016 NCAA Gymnastics Championship, she contributed a score of 9.9 to the Tigers' second-place finish.[7]

2017

Kelley competed on floor exercise in all but two meets of the 2017 season, and also competed once on vault for a score of 9.825. She earned a career-high floor exercise score of 9.975 against George Washington and Iowa. She posted a score of 9.95 on floor exercise at the SEC Championships, earning the event title and contributing to the Tigers' team title.

At the Super Six team finals of the 2017 NCAA Gymnastics Championship, she contributed a score of 9.9 on the floor exercise to help the Tigers earn another second-place finish.[8] She earned first team All-America honors on the floor exercise.

2018

Kelley did not compete in the 2018 season due to an Achilles tendon injury she suffered during a preseason training session.

2019

In addition to floor exercise, Kelley competed regularly on vault and three times on balance beam during the 2019 season. She posted season-high scores of 9.925 on the vault against Missouri and 9.85 on the balance beam at Kentucky. On March 8, she earned her first career perfect 10 on the floor exercise against Oregon State, earning SEC Specialist of the Week honors. At the SEC Championships, she posted scores of 9.9 on the vault and the floor exercise to help the Tigers to another team title.

In the team finals of the 2019 NCAA Gymnastics Championship, Kelley contributed scores of 9.8875 on the vault and 9.95 on the floor exercise to help earn another second-place team finish for the Tigers.[9] She earned second team All-America honors on the floor exercise.

Having missed an entire season due to injury, Kelley was eligible to take a redshirt year but instead opted to retire and end her career after her senior season.[10]

Personal life

McKenna lives in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jenkins. Jeff. 2014-06-03. Kelley steps out of the shadows of famous mother. 2020-06-18. Houston Chronicle.
  2. Web site: Emma Kelley . 11 October 2023.
  3. Web site: GymDivas.Us | Online Resource for Gymnasts in the United States. gymdivas.us. April 27, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140428043139/http://gymdivas.us/profile_mkelley.htm. April 28, 2014.
  4. Web site: April U.S. National Team Training Camp: Recap. Chatty Gymnast. 10 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150527063033/http://chattygymnast.com/2015/05/04/april-u-s-national-team-training-camp-recap/. 27 May 2015.
  5. Web site: USA Gymnastics - USA Gymnastics announces women Pan Am Games training squad. USA Gymnastics. 10 August 2015.
  6. Web site: McKenna Kelley - 2019 - Gymnastics. 2020-06-18. LSU Tigers. en.
  7. Web site: Teams. 2020-06-18. roadtonationals.com.
  8. Web site: Teams. 2020-06-18. roadtonationals.com.
  9. Web site: Teams. 2020-06-18. roadtonationals.com.
  10. Web site: Times-Picayune. Amie Just, NOLA com The. LSU’s McKenna Kelley announces retirement on ‘Today Show’. 2020-06-18. NOLA.com. en.
  11. Web site: USA Gymnastics | McKenna Kelley. usagym.org. April 27, 2014.