Name: McKayla Rose Maroney

Introduction: McKayla Maroney is an American former artistic gymnast. She became a prominent figure in the gymnastics world as a member of the “Fierce Five,” the U.S. women’s gymnastics team that won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She is also widely known for her individual silver medal on the vault at those Games and the viral “McKayla is not impressed” meme. Later in her career, she became a courageous advocate for survivors of sexual abuse within the sport.

Date of birth: December 9, 1995

Height: 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m)

Place of birth: Aliso Viejo, California, U.S.

Family:

• Parents’ names: Erin Maroney (mother, former figure skater) and Mike Maroney (father, former quarterback at Purdue University; died 2019).
• Siblings: Tarynn Maroney (sister) and Kav Maroney (brother).
• Spouse: No publicly known spouse.
• Children: No children.
• Relatives: Her parents and siblings.

Profession: Former artistic gymnast, singer, public speaker.

Nationality: American

Religion: She is of Irish Catholic descent and has spoken about her deep religious beliefs helping her through difficult times.

College or university attended: She was homeschooled during her gymnastics career and did not attend a traditional college or university.

Biography and What Famous For:

McKayla Maroney began gymnastics at a very young age, as her mother sought an outlet for her energetic daughter. She quickly displayed immense talent, starting serious training at Gym-Max and later at the All Olympia Gymnastics Center.

Her elite gymnastics career was marked by her incredible prowess on the vault, making her one of the most dominant vaulters of her generation.

McKayla Maroney is most famous for her achievements in gymnastics and the cultural impact she had:

• 2011 World Vault Champion and Team Gold Medalist: At the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, she won individual gold on the vault, performing a powerful Amanar with exceptional execution. She also contributed significantly to the U.S. team’s gold medal victory.
• “Fierce Five” at the 2012 London Olympics: She was a key member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team, famously dubbed the “Fierce Five” (alongside Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber), which won the team all-around gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This was a historic victory, marking the first U.S. women’s team gold since 1996.
• Olympic Vault Silver Medal and “McKayla is not impressed” meme: Individually, she won a silver medal on the vault at the 2012 Olympics. Her facial expression during the medal ceremony, a look of unamused disappointment, became an internet sensation and a widely shared “McKayla is not impressed” meme, even being mimicked by President Barack Obama. This viral moment significantly boosted her public recognition beyond the gymnastics world.
• Defending World Vault Title (2013): She became the first U.S. female gymnast to successfully defend a World Championship vault title at the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, further cementing her legacy as an unparalleled vaulter.

Maroney retired from competitive gymnastics in 2016 due to ongoing injuries.

In the years following her retirement, she became a pivotal figure in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. In October 2017, she was one of the first prominent gymnasts to publicly allege that former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar had sexually abused her, starting when she was 13 years old. Her courageous decision to speak out, along with many other survivors, played a crucial role in bringing Nassar to justice and exposing systemic failures within USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee. She later gave public congressional testimony.

Since stepping away from gymnastics, Maroney has pursued interests in music, releasing songs, and has been involved in acting with appearances in television shows. She often uses her platform to discuss mental health, healing, and her personal journey.

Have participated (Selected Career Highlights and Other Ventures):

Gymnastics (Elite Career):

• 2010 Pan American Championships: Gold (Team), Gold (Vault), Gold (Floor Exercise) (Junior Division)
• 2011 World Championships: Gold (Team), Gold (Vault)
• 2012 London Olympic Games: Gold (Team All-Around), Silver (Vault)
• 2013 World Championships: Gold (Vault)
• U.S. National Champion on Vault (2011, 2013)
• U.S. National All-Around Silver Medalist (2011)

Television/Media Appearances (Herself/Actress):

• Bones (2012) – Ellie (guest appearance)
• Hart of Dixie (2013) – Tonya (recurring role)
• Superstore (2017) – Lindsey (guest appearance)
• Man with a Plan (2017) – Bouncer (guest appearance)
• Various interviews and documentaries related to gymnastics and the Nassar case.

Music:

• Released singles like “ADVANCED” (2020) and “Wake Up Call” (2020).

Advocacy:

• Prominent survivor and advocate in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case.
• Recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs (as part of the “Silence Breakers”).
• Public speaker on healing and mental health.

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