Season Interrupted: Gymnast Katie McNamara is back on the beam
Throughout the spring, The Times will interview high school seniors whose athletic careers were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.
Name: Katie McNamara
School: Manhattan Beach Mira Costa
Sport: Gymnastics
Key stats: She is the defending state all-around 16U champion, with a specialty on the beam.
Fall plans: She will attend the University of Washington.
A look at the high school sport standouts whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.
On the abrupt cancellation to the season:
“I’m a strong believer everything happens for a reason. I was looking forward to defend that title, but I think it was a blessing in disguise. I sprained my ankle a couple weeks before the finals. It’s healed.”
On how she got into gymnastics:
“My parents put me into gymnastics because when I was young I would be jumping off the coffee table, doing cartwheels all over the house, and they couldn’t handle me. I’m so competitive. I bring competition to every aspect of my life.”
On her life without sports:
“It’s weird. It’s very strange. When I’m not in the gym, I’m normally watching the NBA or NFL. Not having anything is very odd. I’ve taken up cooking and running. I never was a big runner before quarantine. I run now every day.”
On the lessons she’s learned:
“My last competition, I wish I had taken advantage more. I have regrets. My advice would be to never leave anything with any regrets. Put in 110% every time and you’ll walk away feeling great.”
How she trains without a practice facility:
“There’s a curve down by the beach where I’ll do some beam skills on. My neighbors think I’m crazy. The trick is thinking it’s a beam. I have Zoom workouts with my club team.”
Kyle Karros, the son of a former Dodger, feels right at home: ‘I’ve got my hitting coach in my quarantine group.’
Where she sees herself in 10 years:
“I’m sure I’ll find a passion in the next few years at U-Dub. I hope to be helping people.”
On how the sports stoppage changed her:
“It’s really taught me to embrace every moment. The season I did have was amazing, and I will cherish it forever. I am looking at the positives of my life in a much bigger way.”
Video interviews of each athlete can be found at latimes.com/sports/highschool.
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