Jennifer Bricker: Gymnast Born Without Legs

Jennifer Bricker: Gymnast Born Without Legs

digitalsportsnews | November 20, 2014
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  Aerialist, High school tumbling state champion, competitor in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a performer in Britney Spears’ world tour, and motivational speaker. These are notable, even impossible accomplishments for any human being to achieve in a lifetime, but these accomplishments belong to Jennifer Bricker: the gymnast that was born without legs. Romanian born, Bricker’s biological parents gave her up for adoption at birth, due to the inability to pay for inevitable medical bills that come from having a child with special needs. She was adopted by an American family with three sons. Sharon and Gerald Bricker, Jennifer’s adoptive parents, never put any restrictions on her with what she could do. She was an ambitious child and loved sports. A natural athlete, she taught herself to swim and roller skate on her hands. At the age of 7, Bricker started playing softball. By age 11, she took up volleyball and tumbling. Jennifer’s athleticism and love for new challenges eventually led her into the acrobat and aerialist she is known as today. Power tumbling is a form of artistic gymnastics, but uses different equipment. In power tumbling, men, women, boys and girls alike all perform tumbling skills on the floor, a traditional trampoline and a double mini trampoline. After four years of competing in power tumbling, Jennifer made it to the Junior Olympics where she placed 4th in the sport. She became the only physically challenged person to compete professionally in power tumbling. In 1998, she received the U.S. Tumbling Association’s Inspiration Award. After Jennifer graduated from high school, she moved to Orlando, Florida to work at Disney World. It is there that she was introduced to professionals who coached her in acrobatics and aerial arts. Her skills became so finely tunes that she caught the attention of Britney Spears, who asked her to perform on her world tour, Circus. Jennifer became involved with a man named Nate Crawford, a seasoned acrobat, while in Orlando. The pair moved to LA to further her blossoming Hollywood career. She met Los Angeles Trainer, Eric Fleishman, who helped refine Jennifer’s diet and fitness routine. “Eric showed me that you can truly train your body to do anything you want it to”, Bricker says. “I changed my whole lifestyle-eating, sleeping, exercising.” Those familiar with gymnastics and even those that are not know the name Dominique Moceanu – United States Gold Medalist in women’s gymnastics. Bricker grew up idolizing the champion gymnast. Although Bricker knew she was adopted, she never knew who her biological parents were. In 2004, when Jennifer was 16 years old, The Bricker’s gave their daughter the shock of her life. Sharon and Gerald Bricker revealed to her that the Olympic gymnast she had idolized was actually her biological sister! “I was always going on and on about Dominique, how much we looked alike; how she’s small and of Romanian heritage just like me,” Bricker said. Jennifer was finally ready to reach out to Moceanu in December of 2007. She wrote her a letter and included photos and her adoptive papers, which were included in Moceanu’s memoir “Off Balance,” published on June 12th, 2012. This is a small part of what Jennifer wrote to her sister: “Ever since I was about six years old, I’ve been obsessed with gymnastics and I always watched you on TV. You had been my idol my whole life, and you turned out to be my sister! I was in extreme disbelief, and my immediate thought was that I wanted to meet you and let you know. I feel that I have one chance to show you and prove to you that I’m not some crazy person, but I’m sure after seeing all of the papers, you’ll see that I’m serious.” Moceanu called Jennifer a few weeks after receiving her letter. They talked about her biological family, adoptive family and the things they have in common. Bricker’s biological father, Dumitru Moceanu, passed away in 2008. She also connected with her biological mother, Camelia Staicu. Jennifer has no negative feelings toward her adoption and says, “They thought giving me up for adoption would be the best option, and they were right. I was in a place where I could grow and be nurtured and be with amazing people who loved me. I hit the jackpot on the family end.” Jennifer Bricker currently lives in Los Angeles and has a successful career as a motivational speaker. She continues her love of aerial arts, performing and motivating other to follow their dreams. Jennifer is an advocate and keynote speaker for the Adoption Network, the organization that was instrumental in reconnecting her to her biological family. She also works with kids without limbs at a special sports camp. Jennifer sets an example. She displays what is means to possess courage and strength, both mentally and physically. Her fascinating story will continue to inspire and ignite the human spirit. “I believe God wants to use me as an example to move people in a profound way.” This is beautiful performance by Jennifer Bricker, courtesy of #besomebody.