Maggie Nichols' ascendance on the national gymnastics scene took a major leap two weeks ago when she captured a bronze medal on the floor exercise while helping Team USA to a team gold medal at the World Championships. With the 2016 Summer Olympics on the horizon, Nichols, a senior at Roseville High, chatted with the Star Tribune's Michael Rand this week at her gymnastics club, Twin City Twisters in Champlin:
Q When you put in long days of training and it culminates in what you just accomplished at the World Championships, what is that feeling like?
A On a hard day, you just look back on that time you were on podium. It's like, 'Wow, that's what all the hard work was for." It makes you feel happy inside that all your hard work is paying off.
Q What's a normal day for you during the school year?
A I wake up at like 6 or 6:30 and get ready for school. Then I'm at school from about 8 to 1. Then I head over to the gym, and I'm there for about five hours. Then I go home and do homework, eat dinner. That's the routine.
Q How do your friends look at your life compared to theirs?
A My best friend does gymnastics as well, so she understands. But some of my other friends don't really get it. They're like, 'Why can't you just skip the gym and go do this?' It's a different life.
Q You dislocated your left kneecap last year, requiring a six-month recovery. How were you able to come back and put up the performance you had at the World Championships?
