They say you can’t keep a good gymnast down, and Genesis Gibson proved it big time! She went from competing internationally to nearly having her career ended overnight by injuries. But now she’s back, and she’s still standing. And for that, the Husker got a well-deserved shoutout on March 8, fittingly on International Women’s Day. On the scoreboard, the Nebraska Huskers women’s gymnastics topped New Hampshire, 196.350-195.525, in their “Stick it to Cancer” meet — where gymnasts don ribbons to honor those battling cancer. But the party’s not over yet!

The Huskers will stay home for the Ameritas Masters Classic on March 15, where they’ll celebrate Gibson. But who is she? Well, Gibson isn’t just any gymnast! She’s a standout athlete, a dedicated student, and a true leader. Recently, she has been nominated as Nebraska’s female nominee for the  Big Ten Conference Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. But it wasn’t all sunshine and gold medals.

It was more like a rollercoaster with twists, turns, and a whole lot of heartbreak. Injury after injury tried to take her down, but her Nebraska Huskers coach wasn’t having it. With some tough love and plenty of belief, they pushed Gibson to keep fighting — and fight she did. But how it all started? Born in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, to Jimmie and Roxanne Gibson, Genesis grew up with two brothers — older brother Roman and younger brother JT.

With her dad from the U.S. and her mom from Ecuador, she proudly claims dual citizenship. But before she was repping Ecuador internationally, she found her true love at just four years old — gymnastics. Fast forward a few years, and Gibson’s talent was turning heads. Colleges came knocking with full-ride scholarship offers, and things were looking bright — until her back had other plans.

Multiple fractures along her spine threatened to end her career before it really took off. Doctors told her to hang up her grips for good, but Gibson wasn’t about to back down. Determined to keep chasing her dream, she reached out to Nebraska Huskers gymnastics head coach Heather Brink and pitched herself to the program. That bold move paid off. “She wanted to be a part of the team,” Brink said.

“We could give her that, and she could give us some depth on some events that we needed.” Gibson joined the Huskers in 2022 and appeared in seven meets during her freshman season. Despite lingering concerns about her health, Brink was always confident and supportive of her and believed in her potential.

“That’s a benefit to us, in the sense that [Gibson] kind of already understands how to manage that pressure,” Brink added, referring to her international experience representing Ecuador in competitions like the Pan American Games and Pacific Rim Championships. However, back injuries weren’t her only hurdle.

Nebraska Huskers star’s fight to keep her gymnastics dream alive

In 2017, while prepping for the Ecuador Gymnastics National Competition, Gibson took a break to visit Six Flags, and things went south fast. Her finger got caught in a ride gate hinge, slicing off the tip, exposing the bone, and taking all the surrounding flesh with it. Yet somehow, that wasn’t enough to stop her either.

Through it all, Gibson credits her coaches and trainers for helping her manage her injuries and keep her career alive. “The communication between her, the trainers, and the coaches has been extremely helpful,” she said. That support system has been crucial as she continues to push through pain and compete at the highest level.

And now, this gymnastics girl is making her mark in life in more ways than one. She has built an impressive resume both in and out of the gym as a criminology and criminal justice major. Nebraska Huskers head coach Heather Brink praised Gibson’s determination and leadership, believing those qualities will continue to drive her success. Gibson’s journey hasn’t been easy, but she refused to back down from the challenges she faced. Betting on herself paid off, and now, she’s building a future defined by purpose and promise.