Courtney Lynn McCool was born on April 1, 1988 in Kansas City, Missouri. McCool was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic team where she won a silver medal in the women's artistic gymnastics team competition. McCool attended the University of Georgia and competed for their gymnastics team alongside 2004 Olympic teammate Courtney Kupets. After Athens, McCool revealed that she had been diagnosed with a wrist condition called Kienbock's disease.