NEWS
Nichols: My Time at Oklahoma was a Dream Come True
Maggie Nichols’ life has been defined by success. The eight-time NCAA Champion and World Champion gold medal recipient is also now a published author.
Titled Unstoppable!: My Journey from World Champion to Athlete A to 8-Time NCAA National Gymnastics Champion and Beyond, the memoir details the highs and lows of Nichols’ life as a world-class athlete.
Nichols attended a book signing Friday, Feb. 23 at the Lloyd Noble Center during the Sooners’ meet against West Virginia. Later that day, she hand delivered a signed copy to President Harroz at his office along with Castiglione.
“Throughout my career, I always dreamed of writing a book,” Nichols said. “Once I graduated and had the opportunity, I ran with it. My story is one of a lot of highs and a lot of lows.”
Nichols’ career as a Sooner under coach K.J. Kindler helped cement the University of Oklahoma’s women’s gymnastics as the unequalled program in the country. Her efforts helped lead OU to two team national championships (2017 and 2019), three Big 12 Championships and six individual national championships during her time.
With the 2020 AAI Award, the 2019 Honda Sport Award and 2019 NCAA Inspiration Award Winner, she is the most decorated gymnast in Oklahoma history.
“My time at Oklahoma was a dream come true,” Nichols said. “I had so many great role models that helped lead me like my coaches, [Athletic Director Joe Castiglione], and [President Joe Harroz].”
Nichols was one of 265 athletes involved in the sexual case against disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. As one of the best gymnasts in the world, Nichols' connection brought awareness to the case and Nassar’s ultimate conviction. Despite the trauma of her early career, Nichols was able to overcome it and pursue excellence at OU.
Now, Nichols sets her sights on maintaining the success she enjoyed as a Sooner into her post-gymnastics' life. She has helped turn her own experience as a victim of sexual abuse into a positive with her non-profit The Foundation, which aims to aid charities that help heal victims and survivors of all types of abuse.
The support she gained during her time at OU and the success that followed helped cultivate the person she became.
“Oklahoma is one big family, it’s a great community,” Nichols said. “My time at OU really led me into my career now, and to write my book. Oklahoma gave me a lot of those opportunities. I’m incredible thankful for it.”
By Brady Trantham & Madysson Morris
Photos by Travis Caperton
In classic Oklahoma form, spring severe weather the weekend of April 27 interrupted a planned excursion for University of Oklahoma scholars and almost 40 Oklahomans to explore by charter bus the cultural landmark of Route 66 in the state.
OU Dance brought the former director of one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world to Norman this spring to share his choreography to one of his iconic pieces with students for this year’s Contemporary Dance Oklahoma.
Three cycles around the University of Oklahoma’s South Oval will take you one and a half miles. When students make the trek on Sunday, April 28, their laps will be for the symbolic purpose of raising awareness of suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of Darkness Campus Walk at OU will be the first of what organizers hope will become an annual tradition centered around suicide awareness and prevention.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans Butzer and his partner, Torrey A. Butzer, recently received the Mayor’s Award for Distinguished Service from OKC Beautiful, recognizing the Butzers’ visionary architectural designs that have influenced many of Oklahoma City’s buildings and landmarks.
