Boise, Idaho—Faces of Hope welcomes Maggie Nichols to Boise on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, for a luncheon at the Boise Centre.
In January 2018, elite gymnast Maggie Nichols joined gymnasts Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney to speak out about the sexual abuse she endured from USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Maggie joined more than 150 women in giving impact statements about the abuse and the negligence of USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.
Until her testimony, Maggie was known as Athlete A – the first USA gymnast to report the abuse. At the hearing, Maggie stated, “I want everyone to know that he did not do this to Athlete A, he did it to Maggie Nichols.”
While Maggie was certainly not the first to be abused, in 2015, she was the first athlete to come forward and report the abuse. A knee injury and being the first to speak out regarding the sexual abuse caused speculation when she was left off the 2016 Olympic Team. Netflix aired a documentary featuring Maggie’s story in June 2020, bringing additional light and attention to the tragedy. Since then, Maggie has established The Maggie Nichols Foundation, which helps charities that help victims and survivors of all types of abuse.
In 2016, Maggie went on to the University of Oklahoma to compete in the NCAA. She is among the most decorated NCAA gymnasts of all time and has been dubbed “the Michael Jordan of college gymnastics.” Maggie is one of only two gymnasts ever to complete the Gym Slam—scoring a perfect 10 in each event. She recently graduated with her master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.
“Faces of Hope is honored to host Maggie Nichols. She is a model for our mission—overcoming abuse, finding the strength to move forward, reclaiming one’s life, and never giving up. We hope that sharing her story will uplift those in our community experiencing abuse and inspire our community to remember that we all have a role in creating safety and a community free from interpersonal violence in the Treasure Valley,” said Paige Dinger, Executive Director of Faces of Hope.
Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased on the Faces of Hope website. Individual tickets are $100. All proceeds from the luncheon will support victim services at Faces of Hope.
Photo: Maggie Nichols for Getty Images
