1. What age did you start gymnastics?
I started gymnastics at 3 years old!
2. How did you start in gymnastics?
My parents put me in a lot of different sports when I was younger and gymnastics was one of them and the one that I quickly fell in love with.
3. How did you deal with mental blocks?
I was very lucky with mental blocks and did not experience them. I would throw any skill that my coaches would tell me to try. I did experience the "twisties" when I was probably 9 but it only lasted a day or 2.
4. Who was your role model/someone you looked up to in the sport?
When I was younger I always looked up to. Courtney McCool. I loved her gymnastics and always thought we looked similar.
5. What was your hardest struggle during your time as a gymnast?
I feel like this question is tricky. But, if I had to pick one struggle it would be not being the most "powerful" gymnast on floor and vault. I was known more for my artistry. So bars and beam were where I really excelled, but floor and vault took extra focus for me!
6. How do you handle nerves when you are competing?
Nerves were something I gradually learned to handle as I got more confident in my gymnastics and myself. I loved having nerves on vault and floor because I felt like it gave my the extra boost I needed for some power. For bars and beam, I would constantly remind myself to trust my gymnastics and take the routine one skill at a time.
7. What was your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics?
I would have to say my biggest accomplishments were winning the first 3 NCAA National Championship in school history at The University of Oklahoma. Winning the Big 12 title on bars and getting All American Titles. Before college I would say it was being on the U.S. National Team for a few years and competing for USA.
8. What did you do after you were done competing? did you stay involved or did you do something totally different?
After I graduated from OU I went through scoliosis surgery. I had 2 rods and 25 screws put in me during this surgery to straighten my spine. After that I completed one year of grad school while I was recovering. I got to volunteer at a Childrens Hospital in OKC and at an elementary school as well. After that I started my career in Tech Sales at Dell Technologies and am now in cybersecurity sales at Tanium. I have coached some gymnastics camps here and there but am not heavily involved in the sport anymore.
9. What would people need to know if you are starting the sport for the first time?
I would tell people that are starting the sport to enjoy every moment of it and remember that while it may feel like it, gymnastics is not life. It will be hard work, but it will be so worth it and you will make the best friends! It teaches great discipline and can take you very far in life. Always remember to have fun with it!
10. What is your favorite meet?
NCAA National Championships for sure!
11. How did you handle pressure form peers/coaches/fans?
I thrived off of the pressure, especially as I got older. Ever since I was started the sport I was super competitive and loved competing!
12. How do you overcome setbacks and challenges?
I had a great support system at home that would remind me that all of the setbacks and challenges I went through would only make me stronger! They would also always remind me that I am so much more than just the McKenzie "the gymnast".
13. Did college gymnastics ever cross your mind as something you wanted to do?
Yes!! College was something I got interested in when I was pretty young. I would always see the girls competing and it looked like so much fun. I loved how they all supported each other! I actually committed to the University of Oklahoma as a freshman in highschool!
14. Least favorite event and favorite event? And Why?
My least favorite event was always vault. I was not a power house gymnast and just never really enjoyed the event.
15. Hardest and easiest gymnastics skill to train?
yurchenko double full was the hardest skill for me personally to train. Anything on bars or beam were easiest for me!
16. How did/do you deal with getting in your head on skills?
I would just remind myself that my coaches Wouldn't have me do a skill that they didn't think I was capable of doing.
17. How did you stay out of your head at practice and at meet?
I would do some routines in my head, stay moving, and remind myself to have fun with competing. I also always took some deep breaths!
18. Have any of you got a skill for a few weeks on any event and then a week or to later you just can’t do it?
I personally have not dealt with that.
19. How did you cope when your time as a gymnast was over? Did you go into coaching or did you find something else to do?
Being done with gymnastics and having to jump into normal life is definitely an adjustment. I personally am grateful I had the year after my surgery to slowly jump into normalcy, but you kind of go through an identity crisis. I think that getting into sales has helped me adjust because I can take my competitive edge into the corporate world, and have met some great friends through it.
20. Advice you would give to current or people who want to start in the sport?
I would tell someone who is in the sport to have fun with it and to not take it to seriously. Embrace every moment. The good and the bad because when when you retire you will miss it!! If you are someone getting into the sport I would say get ready for a wild but fun ride! You will make great memories, create friendships that will last a lifetime and go through a lot of ups and down but they are all worth it!
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