Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
- Grace McCallum, a gymnast from Minnesota, will compete in her final meet.
- She reflects on her career, perseverance, and overcoming a serious vault injury.
- McCallum's confidence has grown, and she aims to enjoy her last moments.
SALT LAKE CITY — The nerves on Saturday night will be different for Grace McCallum.
The gymnast from Isanti, Minnesota, who has accomplished nearly everything possible in the sport — from high-level competition in elite to being named an Olympian, and a standout four-year college career at Utah — will take part in her final regular-season meet in the Huntsman Center Saturday night.
It's a senior night meet that will position two rivals — and former conference foes — in a highly-anticipated event against UCLA that will feature five Olympians between the two teams on FOX.
For McCallum's part, though, it's the perfect kind of meet to close out her career with the Red Rocks (even if there's still a hanging decision on whether the NCAA will allow a fifth season of competition for athletes).
"I'm really excited for this Saturday," McCallum said. "My heart drops every time I think about it — it starts racing — just because of all the amazing moments I've had in the Huntsman Center. And knowing that it's coming to a close, it's hard to think about. It goes by so fast, and it truly just doesn't feel like it's the last time.
"But I'm really excited. I'm really excited to compete against UCLA for our senior night in the Huntsman. I think they're an amazing team, so I'm excited for the competition. I think it'll be a great time."
McCallum, and the other seniors honored Saturday, have been instrumental figures over the years and no less important in the storied history of the Red Rocks. So a meet of that magnitude only adds to the focus to shake off the emotions of the night.
But as McCallum looks to finish out her career, she'll do it embracing the notion that there's still plenty more to accomplish in her career. There's the hope to be a national champion — as a team or as an individual — and the desire to get as close to perfection on all four events.
One such event, vault, remains the biggest outlier for McCallum so far.
After suffering a serious injury on vault two years ago — one that held her out for most of the season — McCallum has been slowly working her way back to feeling fully comfortable on vault again.
"It's just kind of figuring out my landing," she said. "I have this huge vault, and then I don't know how to land it great. Either I'm controlling it too much and taking a step backwards or I'm flying forwards. And sometimes I'll hit it great, and I'll take the tiniest step, and other times it's not like that. And so it's just kind of figuring out how to control that power, but not too much where I'm taking a step back."
She's also borrowed a bit from her fellow teammate and Olympian Simone Biles' experience of when she got the twisties at the Olympics and wasn't able to compete in all events four years ago. Biles' perseverance was on full display as she returned to the most recent Olympics in Paris and won gold.
That same perseverance has pushed McCallum to not let setbacks define her as a gymnast or what she wants to do by competing in the all-around competition.
"The perseverance it takes to come back after something like that — like, the twisties, especially at the Olympics, it's hard, it's frustrating," McCallum said. "And an injury on vault and going back to do that vault, it's hard, and it's frustrating because you know you can do those skills so easy, and you've trained them a million times, and then one turn can just turn it all upside down.
"I think just being determined and having that confidence and perseverance to go back and do it is huge, and a big takeaway for that."
After originally switching to an easier vault, McCallum has since reintroduced and embraced the Yurchenko 1.5 — the same trick she got injured on — and has continued to progress as the season has developed. And though she is still working on getting it to come together, it's been a boost to her confidence.
None more than knowing she can overcome a past setback.
"It's definitely been a long journey. ... I was scared initially of the landing, and I still have my moments — hence, why I go on the eight inch (mat)," McCallum said. "But I just feel like there was a moment where I was like, 'No, I'm gonna do the one and a half. I know I have what it takes, and I'm gonna build my confidence back up to go do it.'
"It's been hard and it's been a long journey, but I'm so glad I've had everybody by my side supporting me along the way. They've made it a lot easier."
Her vault return has just been one such example of how McCallum has shown a sort of relaxed confidence this season.
Head coach Carly Dockendorf said McCallum is just "celebrating herself now" while not "looking at others to validate who she is or what she's capable of" with her gymnastics. That's allowed her to have one of her best seasons of her collegiate career.
"She's just comfortable with who Grace is and is happy no matter what the outcome, and you can't ask for much more than that," Dockendorf said.
McCallum said it's come from "years of growth" and working with coaches to build her confidence.
"I know coming in freshman year, I was pretty scared, like I knew I had what it took to be a good college athlete, but I didn't have the confidence," McCallum said. "I feel I've slowly filled out over the years and just kind of learned to own my gymnastics and not be scared to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities.
"Confidence is something that has its ups and downs, and so I still struggle with it a bit, but I do feel like I'm truly owning it more this year, especially because it is my last and I really want to just put myself out there and enjoy every last moment I get."
And with UCLA coming to town, there's no better moment to showcase that growth (while also celebrating a great collegiate career).
