MAGGIE NICHOLS: Well, I was actually talking with one of my teammates and my coach overheard, and so she asked me about it. But her visit with Nassar left her uncomfortable. Throughout her gymnastics career, she had been seen by lots of doctors and physical therapists. She knew how doctors were supposed to treat patients. MAGGIE NICHOLS: Right away I just felt very uncomfortable and I knew that what he was doing was…I didn’t think it was the right thing to do and he like closed the blinds and it just felt very weird.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: Maggie was the daughter of medical professionals. Not only about they score’s or they performance, but about how strong of a person it is, how dedicated a person it is, how disciplined a person it is.]ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: In March of 2015, Maggie had tweaked her knee at the Ranch … and was seen by the national team doctor, Larry Nassar. Because she knew Martha would regard her differently if she thought she was vulnerable. I don’t know if anyone was really, like, close with Martha, but if you were one of the best then she liked you more than some of the other athletes and treated you maybe a little bit better.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: Maggie knew that earning Martha’s praise wasn’t a guarantee of anything…and that she’d have to stay healthy going into the Olympic year. MAGGIE NICHOLS: I was never Martha’s favorite really. So, if there would be a selection today she obviously would be on the team.]ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: This was a huge compliment coming from a woman who was notoriously stingy with her praise.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: And it was a huge step forward for Maggie, who’d never felt very secure about how Martha viewed her. And her execution and technique of skills is very nice. Martha Karolyi: Well, she just showed that she’s very consistent. What did she show you here that maybe further made her case? REPORTER: You said the other day that Maggie is maybe the most improved this quadrennium. NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCER: She finally feels like she’s in the mix.]ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: And by 2015, the 17-year-old had established herself as one of the top all-around gymnasts in the country…she’d even gotten Martha Karolyi to acknowledge her improvement. NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCER: She just looks so steady.Dismount right here. ANNOUNCER: Now on balance beam: Maggie Nichols! Her lifelong Olympic dreams started to feel tangible. Team for gymnastics, and now I go to the University of Oklahoma.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: In 2014 Maggie turned heads when she took bronze in the all-around at Nationals. MAGGIE NICHOLS: My name is Maggie Nichols. She was about to choose one more Olympic team.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: And one of the gymnasts fighting for a spot on that team was an athlete from Little Canada, Minnesota. Martha Karolyi: Unfortunately, any good stuff has to come to an end.]ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: In July of 2015, Martha made it official: she would be retiring after Rio. Martha Karolyi was in her last quadrennium, as they call it.Īnnouncer: at 73, this will be Martha’s final Olympics as coach.] One Olympics ends and the march toward the next begins. I could not wish for anything more.]Īnnouncer: It’s the last time for Martha.ĪLYSSA ROENIGK: This is Episode 7: The UnravelingĪLYSSA ROENIGK: Elite gymnastics moves in four year cycles. Martha Karolyi: I’m one hundred percent happy with my career. Nothing was ever good enough for Martha and I think that’s what made us so good. SIMONE BILES: If we gave a hundred percent, she wanted 110. SIMONE BILES: I remember going into the meets and they’re like, ‘are you nervous?’ I’m like, ‘Nervous for what? have you met Martha?’ Like, she’s terrifying.Īnnouncer: Is she that tough a task master? Martha Karolyi: Everything what you do from this moment…it counts.] Everybody was afraid of Martha because she had that much power. SIMONE BILES: Martha would literally clear rooms. ALYSSA ROENIGK: A word of warning: this episode contains mature language depicting instances of sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse of children
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