Maggie Nichols, the former U.S. National Team gymnast known as “Athlete A” in the Netflix documentary that exposed decades of abuse within USA Gymnastics, is coming to Owensboro to share her story of survival, justice, and hope.
The free event will be hosted by New Beginnings Sexual Assault Support Services and will take place at 7 p.m. on October 2 at the Jack Wells Community Center.
Nichols will be interviewed on stage by local media personality and New Beginnings board chair Chad Benefield, offering a candid conversation about her journey from Olympic hopeful to one of the first survivors to report sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
“We wanted to return to a more mission-focused event like when we brought Elizabeth Smart in back in 2019,” said Karla Ward, executive director of New Beginnings. “Maggie’s strength and resilience bring an important voice to our community, especially for those who might be feeling alone in their journey.”
Nichols, a former NCAA gymnastics champion and founder of the Maggie Nichols Foundation, was the first athlete to report Nassar’s abuse in 2015. Her story was featured in the Netflix documentary “Athlete A,” which helped spark national awareness of the scandal and led to sweeping changes in USA Gymnastics.
The idea for the local event came from a casual lunch meeting between Ward and Benefield.
“This literally stemmed from a lunch Karla and I had at Chili’s,” Benefield said. “We were talking about how we should revisit a guest speaker series. We took some ideas to the board, and this event was born. It’s going to be incredible.”
Benefield said he’s honored to lead the on-stage conversation and has spent months preparing.
“I have already watched the movie twice and dissected every word of her autobiography,” he said. “The book looks like a college textbook. It’s full of underlined passages, highlighted sections, and handwritten notes I made.”
A lifelong fan of Olympic sports, Benefield said Nichols’ story reshaped how he views the sport he’s always loved.
“Until Maggie, I didn’t have a clue the price these athletes were paying behind the scenes for those moments of glory,” he said. “Ultimately, her story challenged everything we knew about women’s gymnastics. It’s equal parts tragic and triumphant. Maggie’s a World Champ, but it’s her bravery outside the gym that really resonates with me.”
Benefield said he’d be wearing two hats for the interview.
“First, I’m a fan of Maggie and her sport,” he said. “I am also Board Chair of New Beginnings and a longtime advocate for the agency. I understand the importance of sharing stories like this. Maggie is a symbol of strength, resilience, and survival. There’s a reason her autobiography is called Unstoppable. She’s a force of nature in the gym and outside of it.”
Before the evening event, Nichols will also visit with young athletes at Westbrook Gym and Fitness from 4:30-5:30 p.m., sharing her message of courage and empowerment with the next generation.
“This is an opportunity for both the athletes and the general public to hear from someone who’s overcome unimaginable obstacles,” Ward said. “We wanted this to be accessible to everyone, so instead of charging admission, we secured sponsors to cover all costs.”
The Jack Wells Center has a capacity of 450, and organizers hope to fill every seat.
The event is open to the public thanks to generous support from community sponsors at the gold, silver, and bronze levels, as well as a dedicated sponsor covering Nichols’ travel expenses.
For more information, visit nbowensboro.org.
