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.

High School Sports

Season Interrupted: Snapshots of high school seasons cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic

A look at the high school sport standouts whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.

April 11, 2020

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.�

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.