University of Georgia Athletics
McCool, Kupets Keep Gym Dog Legacy Alive
November 16, 2011 | Gymnastics
Nov. 16, 2011
By Aimee Russo
UGA Sports Communications
The Georgia Gym Dogs create many lasting relationships among teammates. It is a bond among the program that reflects their team dynamic. Two former gymnasts, Courtney McCool and Courtney Kupets, illustrate this kinship.
The relationship that McCool and Kupets now have began long before their time as Gym Dogs. The two were members of the 2004 silver-medal winning U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, which sparked their friendship through the competition.
"Courtney and I were from different places, but we read our Bible when we were there, and that's when we really started to connect," McCool said.
The experience of competing at such an elite level really connected the two gymnasts, sharing memories they will never forget.
"In the arena on the podium with the silver medal and our flag going up, it wasn't 
necessarily a gold medal, but to us it was a big deal because we had worked so hard," Kupets said. "We had gone
through so many ups and downs and to be able to accomplish that and be able to say that we would always have that was an amazing feeling."
While competing for Georgia, the teammates learned valuable lessons that were a change of pace from the elite world they were accustomed.
"Coming from club gymnastics, you're with a team, but it's very individual," Kupets said. "Coming into Georgia gymnastics, I learned very quickly that it's about the team and it makes it more fun and you actually end up doing better because you're focused on everyone else."
"I basically learned how to live life because of the people I was blessed to spend every day with," added McCool. "I realized that it was more of a family environment and we more so grew as women, and a family and as sisters and influenced each other in so many more ways than just gymnastics."
That team atmosphere played a key role in the mentality the two gymnasts use to keep them driven towards their future.
McCool even used her friendship with Kupets to lure her back to Georgia. Both gymnasts have returned to the University of Georgia to pursue graduate degrees in sport management while continuing their involvement in the athletic association in other areas.
Now working in the Rankin Smith Academic Center, McCool spent a year as a student volunteer for the Gym Dogs for the 2010-2011 season. The former All-American and 2010 Coaches Award winner would like to one day coach for the Gym Dogs.
"I love the program; it changed my life. So I would love to continue to help to change all the girls that come in," McCool said.
In pursuit of this goal, McCool also works at Georgia Elite Gymnastics with Gym Dog alum Kim Arnold Arenas and her husband.
Kupets is currently a graduate assistant in the UGA Athletic Association compliance and student services office. She works on various projects around campus including the Circle of Honor induction ceremony in April 2012 with her former coach Suzanna Yoculan.
"I think the best part is being in an environment with people like Carla (Williams) and Glada (Horvat) and Rhonda (Kilpatrick); they have such a big influence on the school and yet they are so good at what they do and they are still nice," said Kupets. "Even if they have a lot of work going on and they might be stressed, they don't take it out on anyone or they don't show it; they just kind of handle it. And I think that's almost one of the most beneficial things for me to see."
Kupets hopes that her work in the athletic association will help lead her to a career in NCAA athletics, as she too would like to coach at the college level.
In the meantime, the two recently joined forces for the 2011 Progressive Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular. Airing on NBC on Jan. 8, 2012, the pair performed with other former and current Olympic gymnasts and ice skaters. McCool and Kupets reunited to execute beam and floor routines choreographed by McCool.
"After we did our first event, which was beam, we nailed it," Kupets said. "It felt so good. We went to the hallway and we were just jumping up and down, high-fiving, smiling, laughing, running down the hallway because to have that feeling again was great. I haven't had that in a long time and it was really fun."
"The great thing was that they loved it, the people who brought us in to do the show, so we felt like we had done what we were asked to come and do," McCool said.
The bond between McCool and Kupets keeps bringing the two together. The future looks bright for the tandem pair and their relationship looks to keep flourishing into new projects such as a possible gymnastics clothing line for kids.
"I think God has a plan for us," McCool explains. "We're the closest we've ever been really. I think it just shows the real close friendships you have with people when you have commonalities outside of everything else."
