Post Olympic Trials Interview with McKayla Maroney

Jun 27, 2013 by Elizabeth Stranahan

One year ago today
July 1, 2012

McKayla Maroney on floor at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Interviewer: Who did you tell, "dreams come true?" Who? I didn't quite hear you.

McKayla Maroney: Kyla.

Interviewer: Kyla.

Maroney: She's been my friend since I was like six, seven years old. We've been, we were training at the same gym, and ya know, that doesn't happen very often (gets choked up) when teammates go to the Olympics together. It's just so amazing.

Interviewer: You had a bit of a break in on your first rotation on bars. So, when you were, you know, getting ready for vault, did, what was going through your mind? Do you know?

Maroney: I knew that I needed to hit that vault and I knew that I could. I mean, that's what I came out here to do, and that's what they need me for on the Olympic Team, so if I couldn't hit that vault, I obviously wouldn't be on this team today. So, I knew I could do it, and I believed in myself, and all the people in the stands and my coaches and my family, they believed in me as well, so I needed to hit that for all of them.

Interviewer: Is your confidence when you're about to vault a different kind of confidence when you have on the other apparatuses? Or is it…

Maroney: I think it's the same on everything. Ya know, you just do what you need to do, and, I mean, it's just something that I'm better at, I guess.

Interviewer: When you hit that vault were you confident that was enough to make the team?

Maroney: Um, I was confident that it was enough to win a gold medal in London, so, um, that's really important, and I wasn't positive I was, if I was going to be on the team, but I really hoped, and I prayed, and I'm just, (gets choked up) I'm so happy right now.

Interviewer: What does it mean to you if you can sum it up right now to be an Olympian?

Maroney: What?

Interviewer: What does it mean to you if you can even sum it up, to be an Olympian?

Maroney: Oh, it's the best feeling. You kind of just look back at all the memories of how hard you worked and and how many things just, ya know, didn't go your way, and I mean, I had a concussion before this weekend, and I didn't even know if I was going to be doing gymnastics. So, it was, it's just the best feeling, and, ya know, dreams do come true when. It's, it's amazing.

Interviewer: What will be your focus? Um, obviously are you going to be used on floor, and will that be a big focus for you heading into London?

Maroney: Definitely. I haven't been as consistent here because of, I only had like a week of training, so, I'm, I'm really ready to go home and train really hard and try to get ready for London.

Interviewer: How did you get your mental game back between the, uh, first day…?

Maroney: Um, you really just need to stay positive, and if you're a good gymnast you can switch anything that fast. I think all of these girls are really good with mental stuff, and I knew that I needed to change my mind around and get ready for today.

Interviewer: Last inspired question, how do you pick your leotard?

Maroney: Um, all these girls are, like, we're really like superstitious with leotards. This was the leotard that I won, um, World Championships in, so, it was definitely a special leotard for me today, but, um, it know of depends on how you've done in that leo. If it's, if it's a brand new leo, it's fine. But, if you've worn it before and you didn't do well, I probably wouldn't wear it. (laughs)

Interviewer: Will you ever wear that white leo again, that you didn't get to compete in at Visa's?

Maroney: I don't know. Probably not. But if I ever, um, go back to another Visa Championships maybe. I guess we'll see.