McKayla Maroney

  McKayla Rose Maroney, born December 9, 1995, is an American retired artist gymnast. She was part of the American women's gymnastics team, known as the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics in which she was awarded gold in the team event and an individual silver medal in the vault event. Maroney was also part of the gold-winning American team at the 2011 World Championships, where she was awarded gold medals for the team and vault competitions. Maroney was awarded the vault gold medal in the 2013 World Championships and then defended her World title. She became the first American female vault champion. She resigned from competitive gymnastics in the year 2016. McKayla Rose Maroney was a daughter of Erin Maroney and Mike Maroney. Her father was a Purdue University quarterback, while her mother was involved in figure skating and high school sports. McKayla is a catholic Irish Catholic. She has two sisters: Tarynn and Kav. McKayla was homeschooled to become an elite gymnast.