The Nebraska Huskers vs New Hampshire meet was not your ordinary gymnastics competition. On the occasion of Women’s Day, the gymnasts were all tumbling on the mats for a cause – to honor cancer survivors. It was also the second last time the Huskers performed at home this season. Next, they’ll stay home for the final Ameritas Masters Classic, aka their senior and alumni night, where they will also honor their champs. And one of the honorees, well, she’s special.

She’s been through so much down the years, injury-wise, that she deserves every bit of this shoutout.

We’re talking about the Nebraska Huskers’ star, Genesis Gibson. Her gymnastics career has been a rollercoaster of injuries, with the first major injury starting as early as her freshman year of high school. Yes!

That’s when her back took the first hit. Unfortunately, that started a domino effect. Multiple fractures along her spinal column slowed her down. But the most horrific injury? It came out of a ghastly accident!

Despite doctors advising her to quit the sport, Gibson pushed herself. She even cut down on the number of apparatuses. As documented by the Daily Nebraskan in 2022, Gibson had said, “I just narrowed it down to where I only did bars as my event. That was probably the least strenuous on my back.” Little did she know that another horrifying injury was about to come her way. And it would be completed unrelated to her back. It’s something the Nebraska Huskers gymnast wouldn’t have ever imagined in her wildest dreams.

In 2017, while Genesis Gibson was preparing for the Ecuador National Competition, she underwent something completely unexpected. She had taken a trip to Six Flags when her finger squeezed between a hinge on a ride gate. In this unanticipated accident, the Nebraska Huskers gymnast cut the tip of her finger, to the extent that her bone was being slightly exposed. Yikes!

But the mighty gymnast showed great resilience. Yes, once again. Her words from 2022 were, “I waited about three weeks, and then I wrapped it in a balloon and taped it around.”

Yes, neither did she quit gymnastics because of her back, nor did she slow down her momentum when she nearly lost her finger. In fact, she turned it to her advantage. The gymnast had confessed, “That [The ballon grip] made my hands grip like crazy. I was training even more at that point just to get back to where I was.” When the chips are down, and if you find something crazy in your hand (no pun intended), you sometimes ride your luck.

Yes. And in 2025, her aura is no different. No wonder that Genesis Gibson is now getting a special nomination. Curious to know what that is?

Nebraska Huskers gymnast gets nomination for a major award

Yes, as reported by the Nebraska Huskers on March 5, 2025, Genesis Gibson has been nominated as Nebraska’s female nominee for the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. After all, she has always been grateful for what’s come her way and has tried giving back to the sport.

“I knew I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity given to me. Neither of my parents went to college. So I understand that education is absolutely a privilege,” Gibson said.

You ask her how she makes an impact, and the Nebraska Huskers star will say, “I’m doing it for the generations before me who couldn’t do it. I’m doing to for my coaches and my teammates who got me to where I am today. And the best way to honor that is to give it everything I have every day.”

Also, this is not it. She has been going above and beyond to give back to the sport.

Genesis Gibson narrates an incident that occurred when she traveled to Panama in 2023. There, they repainted a school for underprivileged children. Moreover, the gymnast believes watching them lead their lives taught her more than she could help them.

Do you find her story inspiring, and would you want to see her win the award? Let us know below!