12:32 pm | December 13, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
December 13, 2018
Oklahoma gymnast Maggie Nichols will be honored in January as the 2018 NCAA Inspiration Award winner along with former UCF football player Shaquem Griffin.
Nichols is one of hundreds of athletes who have spoken out over the past year about the extensive abuse suffered at the hands of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State team doctor, Larry Nassar. Since coming forward, Nichols has become even more of a role model for the young girls who have always looked up to her.
Created in 2001 by the NCAA Honors Committee, the Inspiration Award may be presented to a coach or administrator currently associated with intercollegiate athletics or to a current or former varsity letterwinner at an NCAA institution who, when confronted with a life-altering situation, used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the event and now serves as a role model to give hope and inspiration to others in similar situations.
Though she went public a week before the Sooners would compete at Georgia in the opening meet of the season, Nichols did not let it distract her from becoming the nation’s top gymnast.
In 2018, she held the top spot in the all-around every week of the season, culminating in an NCAA Individual National Championship in the all-around. Nichols added two more national titles on bars and floor. She is the only gymnast to ever post two perfect 10s on every event, becoming the first and only gymnast to post back-to-back “Gym Slams” with a 10.0 on every event in consecutive seasons.
Along with her honors on the national level, Nichols was also the 2018 South Central Region Gymnast of the Year, the 2018 Big 12 Gymnast of the Year and a two-time Big 12 Individual Champion (floor, all-around).
Nichols, a Little Canada, Minnesota native, will receive her award on January 23 at the annual NCAA Honors Dinner as part of the NCAA Convention in Orlando. Nichols is the second winner from Oklahoma, joining 2005 honoree Michelle Thomas
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