Former Olympian debuts at Gym Dogs event
October 24, 2006 by MEGAN HARRISON
Filed under Sports
Freshman Courtney McCool is one of three U.S. gymnasts with a gymnastics move named after her.
And it is a move that she still uses today.
“The McCool is where you stand back, like (fellow Gym Dog) Kelsey (Erickson) does when she mounts on beam, and you run and do a front handspring onto the beam,” McCool said. “So it’s a running front handspring mount.”
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McCool was the first person to do this mount at such a high level of competition, earning the name association.
When the Gym Dogs host their fall Open House tonight, it will be the first time Gym Dog fans can see McCool practice her stunt. For McCool, the Open House will be another milestone on her journey to return to competition.
The freshman from Lee’s Valley, Mo. has not been able to compete since after the 2004 Olympics, when she underwent surgery on her wrist.
McCool’s injuries were the result of Kienbock’s Disease, which caused the bones in her arm to be different lengths and prevented blood flow to her hand.
“She has had a pin put in and taken out,” Gym Dogs coach Suzanne Yoculan said.
Two years are usually required for recovery, making the freshman on track to return to the gym.
Before surgery, McCool was competing in the all-around event, but since her surgery, she has been limited to two events, floor and beam.
“We have been pleasantly surprised,” Yoculan said.
She added that when McCool came to the program, the team thought she would only be able to compete on beam, which does not put much pressure on her hand, but she is now able to perform the floor exercise as well.
“She is very quick to tell me that she will be in more events soon,” Yoculan said.
And McCool wants to get back into the all-around again, although some events appeal to her more than others.
“I miss bars terribly,” McCool said, adding that vault was her least favorite, but she is just concentrating on beam and floor exercise right now.
During that time, she never thought of quitting. For now, McCool said she is focusing on the Gym Dogs season, but a return to the Olympics in 2008 is still in the back of her mind.
In turn, the former Olympian has spent more time at the gym honing her craft.
“If there is nothing around that I want to do, I come (to the gym),” McCool said. “This is where I like to work out my frustration. I like to be in the gym.”
Yoculan added that it is clear why McCool was an Olympian – her execution is at such a high level and her confidence.
Nonetheless, Yoculan describes McCool as a humble athlete.
Today, when McCool and the Gym Dogs practice before their fans, Yoculan wants to remind everyone that the team, much like McCool, is still getting back into the routine.
“This is not like a sneak-a-peak, like we have in December,” Yoculan said. “It’s to see where we are now and how we are progressing.”
