Girl Born With No Legs Become Gymnastics Champion

Despite her condition, Jen became a brilliant athlete

Despite all difficulties, a girl who was born without legs, Jen Bricker, has become a champion gymnast.
The unbelievable story of Jen Bricker began 27 years ago when, after being born with a genetic defect, she was adopted into the Bricker family. Brought up in the small Illinois town of Oblong, Jennifer Bricker excelled as a youngster at volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and softball, despite not having legs.

Jen Bricker defied expectation to become a gymnast champion

The family had only one rule – never use the word ‘can’t’. This positive outlook allowed Jen to take up a hobby that many others in her position would have thought impossible. Starting off by practicing on a trampoline, by the time she was a teenager Jen was the tumbling champion in her home state of Illinois.
Sister as an idol

Dominique Moceanu (left) and her long-lost sister Jen Bricker

Like many young gymnasts her age, she was always enthralled by the US gymnast Dominique Moceanu, who won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. When, at the age of 16, she asked her adoptive parents about her background, found out that her actual last name was the same as the gymnast she had looked up to for several years.

Jen Bricker, the secret sister of Olympic medal winner Dominique Moceanu, was put up for adoption by her biological parents because she was born with no legs

She said: ‘[My mother] handed a document and said, “You’re never going to believe this, but your biological last name is Moceanu. As soon as the words left her lips, I knew what it meant my childhood idol was my sister. Since then we’ve become close and I feel like a piece of the jigsaw of my life has fallen into place”

Dominique moceanu in 1996

A few years later, and after writing several letters to her biological sister, Jen finally met Dominique. Now Jen is a professional aerial gymnast who has enjoying a close relationship with her sister.