This weeks 20Q features future Mountaineer McKenna Linnen. McKenna, a Level 10 from Gym America in Saline Michigan, is a beautiful gymnast to watch on all events, but it is her floor routine that is absolutely mesmerizing. When McKenna takes the floor you cannot
take your eyes off of her clean tumbling, extreme flexibility and beautiful dance! McKenna
will take her impressive floor and high flying bars to West Virginia in the fall, but until then let’s get to know McKenna a little better as she begins her final year of JO Gymnastics with not only Gym America, but Region 5 as well! McKenna has been a true delight to have on the competition floor and I would love to see her cap off her senior year in a big way this year!
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? I started gymnastics at 2 years old because I was born with a sensory integration disorder. This disorder caused me to not have any fears at all, so my mom wanted me to have somewhere safe that I could burn off energy and be a daredevil.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event to compete is beam and floor, but I love training bars.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part is competing and showing off everything you have been working on in practice.
If not already committed to college, what college do you want to attend? I am committed to West Virginia University.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is the Wolverine Classic which is the meet that my gym hosts. I love it because all of my friends and family are able to come and support my team and I.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is that I have 
placed in the top three on beam at regionals the past four years.
Favorite skill to train and/or compete? My favorite skill to train as well as compete is my double layout off bars.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a front handspring double front on floor.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire every single college 
gymnast because it is amazing how hard they work to be a successful student athlete.
What is your all time favorite leotard? My all time favorite leotard is one of my first leotards. I wore it when I was on pre team. It was the most comfortable leotard I owned, I wore it constantly. It was yellow and had palm trees all over it.
Do you still have your very first leo? I do not still have my first leotard.
What were the first Olympic Games you remember watching? The first Olympic Games I remember watching were the 2008 games in Beijing.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I am not sure but I’m entering West Virginia University as a Business major.
Where do you go to High School? I go to school at Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan.
What is your favorite color? My favorite color is pink or teal.
What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I love to spend time with friends and play with my dogs.
If you weren’t a gymnast what sport do you think you would try? If I weren’t a gymnast I think it would be really fun to try pole vault.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? If I could live anywhere in the world I would want to live in Fiji.
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? If I could have lunch with anyone I would want to have it with any of my teammates from when I lived in Australia. I miss them all so much and would love to be able to catch up over lunch sometime.
Tell me something interesting about yourself…..Something interesting about me is that I used to live in Australia, and my sister and I really want to go back in a couple of years, after college
Here are a few of McKenna’s floor routine from last years Wolverine Classic
