What if the best season starts when you finally stop forcing it? That’s the turning point Maddie shares as we trace her path from a three-year-old flipping off couches to a UCLA D1 Gymnast and now a senior balancing bars and degree in applied mathematics! WOW! Maddie almost walked away after Level 10, burned out by self-promotion and a chaotic recruiting landscape—then found her rhythm, got into UCLA academically, and seized a rare chance to walk on to one of college gymnastics’ most electric programs led by Head Coach Janelle McDonald.

We go inside the demands most fans never see. NCAA hour caps don’t soften the intensity: three-hour practices, strength work, and a meet-day “touch” that lasts four minutes for the entire lineup. On bars that can mean one turn, new settings, and a clock winding down while you’re still waiting to jump. Maddie breaks down the mental side of that moment—trusting the thousands of reps, using the touch for feel and cues, and treating a miss as useful information rather than a verdict. We unpack how lineups are chosen, why alternates always prep, and how an unexpected exhibition at Stanford proved the value of staying ready.

Culture is the power move here. UCLA’s program prizes big personalities and genuine support, and Maddie describes arriving without the usual recruiting runway, being welcomed instantly, and then growing into a leadership role as a young roster took shape. With eight seniors gone, she shifted from quiet example to vocal standard-setter, helping protect a culture the team rebuilt over years. That investment paid off with a nationals run that felt like a culmination—a result that matched the work, the values, and the joy.

If you’re chasing performance under pressure—whether you’re an athlete, student, or leader—this story lands. It’s about letting go to compete better, choosing teammates to quiet nerves, and solving one hard problem at a time. Listen, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. If you want to support Maddie in her senior season and all the UCLA Gymnastics team go to: www.uclabruins.com

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*Athletes must be 18 years or older or in the company of their legal guardian to participate in the show. Participants can remain anonymous with no visual footage for marketing and names can be changed to protect identity.