McKayla Maroney
McKayla Maroney
McKayla Rose Maroney is an American former artistic gymnast. She was a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team dubbed the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she won a gold medal in the team and an individual silver medal in the vault event. Maroney was also a member of the gold-winning American team at the 2011 World Championships where she won gold medals in the team and vault competitions. She defended her World title and won the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGymnast
Date of Birth9 December 1995
CityAliso Viejo, CA
CountryUnited States of America
For our team leotards, we get about ten to choose from to actually compete in at the Olympics.
I wasn't expecting two seconds of me on the medal stand to go viral after the Olympics. I came back to my room after the medal ceremony, and my dad said this picture of me doing a face I don't even remember making is blowing up.
I really like Rihanna. And I actually do like Justin Bieber. I like the Weeknd. I like Katy Perry.
I did a 'Hart of Dixie' episode, and I was so excited for that.
You never really think about what happens after the Olympics - you're just like, 'I want to compete. I want to do well' and thinking about that. After it all happened, it was such a whirlwind. I've gotten to do so many amazing things. My favorite thing was getting into acting.
The thing with gymnastics is people don't always know the events. So they'll ask me about the rings, and I'll have to say, 'Women don't do that.' Or they'll use the wrong words, like horse instead of vault. They get confused.
You have to stay true to yourself and where you're coming from, and sometimes people see you in a different light, but you have to take it in and try to be positive about anything.
In gymnastics, everything is a competition. You want to have your hair look the best and your makeup look the best. You want to be the best, and you want to have the prettiest leotard.
Looking back isn't going to help you. Moving forward is the thing you have to do.
If you're following your dreams, you're doing something you love and that you believe in yourself for.
Before competition, I always take an ice bath to make my body feel more refreshed. Then I always have coffee with a little cream and sugar. It's a superstitious thing.
You're in the gym eight hours a day; you're not preparing for cameras and running around and doing tour stops and making acting appearances.
Every single day, I get asked by people to do 'the face,' so I'm bringing it along with me now for the rest of my life.
I just know that all my fans who are with me and going along for the ride, that's what means the most to me.