Bridget Sloan faced what she may have thought was the biggest tragedy of her gymnastics career just a few months before the 2008 Olympics.

That year in March, at the City of Jesolo Trophy, Sloan tore her meniscus — a devastating injury sustained just months prior to the Summer Games. Her Olympic dream had ended.

At least, that's what people thought.



It wasn't over for Sloan. She underwent surgery on her meniscus, and following that, she fought like never before to achieve her goal. Sloan recovered in time to compete at the National Championships, and then the US Olympic Trials — that's where the magic happened.

Sloan wrote a testimonial thanking her surgeon, Dr. Bicos, for his tremendous impact on her journey.

When I tore my meniscus in March of 2008, my dreams of making the 2008 Olympic team seemed to be over. Dr. Bicos performed an arthroscopic surgery on my left knee that month, and I was back competing three months later. In July, I made the 2008 Olympic team.

Enter Maggie Nichols. She recently tore her meniscus while training an Amanar, and was unable to compete at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships after being named to the team. Though clearly a devastating moment, Nichols is a fighter, and believes there is a plan for this unexpected turn on her road to Rio.

For Nichols, each day is an opportunity to find more hope, be more grateful, and gain more strength.

The first tweet we saw from Maggie after her injury:

I have faith that God is living out a divine plan through me. Have faith in God. - Mark 11:22

— Maggie Nichols (@MagsGotSwag12) April 5, 2016

After the NCAA Championships, Rhonda Faehn, USA Gymnastics' senior vice president of the women's program, said this about Maggie:

She is strong—I know Maggie—and she is incredibly disciplined and has this tremendous heart, so I have no doubt that she will come back stronger than before.

Nichols has proven before that she can not only recover from a knee injury, but come back strong. At the 2014 Pan-American Championships, she dislocated her kneecap on floor during the team final. When she returned to competition in 2015, a spark of determination propelled her to great success.

She finished 2015 as a team world champion and world bronze medalist on floor, and started 2016 as the American Cup all-around silver medalist. Nichols has the heart of a champion... And she's just getting started.



Related:
Maggie Nichols Undergoes Knee Surgery, Out 4-6 Weeks
Beyond the Routine: Bridget Sloan & the Florida Gators - The Trailer
Episode 1: Bridget Sloan's Untold Story
Episode 2: How Florida Did the Unthinkable
Episode 3: Scooters, Sparkles, and Sloan
Rhonda Faehn On Watching Florida, Her New Role With USAG, Maggie’s Injury, & Pac Rims