Like many little girls, Jennifer Bricker wanted to be a gymnast, just like her idol, Olympic gold medalist Dominque Moceanu. But unlike other girls, Jennifer’s obstacle was much greater: she has no legs. Born in Romania, Jennifer was adopted by an American couple and grew up in a small town in Illinois. Her parents raised her like they raised her three older brothers — never say the word “can’t.” With that attitude, Jennifer excelled at tumbling, winning multiple awards and becoming the state champion. When Jennifer was sixteen, she became curious about her biological family and discovered a stunning connection to her childhood inspiration.
WILLIAM VILLAIRE