The world of gymnastics is a haven and a happy place for countless athletes. However, with its dark past, many icons have had to overcome a traumatic journey in the sport. One such icon is a former American gymnast renowned for her advocacy in gymnastics and for also becoming the first NCAA gymnast to complete a gym slam for the Oklahoma Sooners.

This 26-year-old was also the ex-roommate of gymnastics queen Simone Biles, and their combined influence has had a major impact on the sport. And in her latest revelation, she opened up about her distressing past, sharing the traumatic mistreatment that left her “starved.”

A former gymnastics star shares details of her traumatic past

Maggie Nichols opened up to PEOPLE, in an exclusive interview about her tell-all memoir “Unstoppable!” and revealed the challenges she faced during her time with USA Gymnastics. In the interview, she revealed how she entered USA Gymnastics, a place where countless young athletes aspire to be, brimming with hope and passion for the sport.

She was just 14 at the time and was tall with a muscular build that gave her immense power. But the USA Gymnastics’ coordinator at the time saw it as an issue rather than a strong suit and demanded the gymnast shed her weight. Looking back at her younger self, Maggie Nichols said, “I look back and I want to hug that girl, because she was tired and hungry and hurting.”

How the situation went from bad to worse for Maggie Nichols

Maggie Nichols, now 26 years old, shared how she was shocked when she was told to focus on her body image, something she hadn’t thought about before. She was determined to do whatever it took to be the best. So then she began counting every calorie, cutting out carbs, and adding more workouts to her already rigorous training. Despite reaching an extremely low body fat percentage of a scary 6.5%, her coordinator once even criticized her for eating a banana. She was constantly hungry, which eventually led to fatigue and injuries. This physical vulnerability led her to seek medical attention and further contributed to the abuse she faced by the now-convicted Larry Nassar, who was the team’s sports medicine physician at the time.

Read more: “Scarring”: Simone Biles Opens Up on Testifying Against Larry Nassar

Eventually, she was among the first to speak out against the mistreatment and abuse that she shared. Despite these challenges, she later became a successful college gymnast at the University of Oklahoma, clinching multiple championships. Today she is focused on positive aspects of her life, including her engagement, education, and advocacy, and shares, “I’m so much stronger as an athlete and as person.” Her memoir “Unstoppable!” was released on January 16, 2024, and with it, her impact on countless young women continues to resound.

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