WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Shelburne native and Olympic medalist Megan Nick is back in Vermont for the first time since the winter games. Since leaving Beijing, she’s continued competing in other places around the country.
The CVU grad took a bronze medal in freestyle aerial skiing last month, but that wasn’t always her sport of choice. She trained as a gymnast at the Green Mountain Training Center in Williston until her senior year of high school.
At a gathering at the center, Nick answered questions and signed autographs. She says her former coaches and teammates from the gym have been nothing but supportive.
“Those coaches, the whole family and teammates really shaped the person and athlete I am today, so they definitely helped me get to this point,” she said. But at the end of the day, her success was also the result of hard work. “A lot of pressure. I understand it’s a privilege to have that pressure and to feel that kind of pressure, but yeah, I definitely was the most stressed out in my life I’ve ever been. But I’m so glad I was able to put it down when it mattered.”
Nick also made a stop Wednesday at the Shelburne Fieldhouse, where she was escorted by first responders to the festivities, which included music and Palmer’s maple snow cones.
“I’m so grateful they’re putting on this parade for me today,” Nick said. “It’s insane to think that and I’m so grateful for the whole community for supporting me and helping me through the last eight years of this sport.”
Nick said now that this is over, she’ll be taking a break from aerial skiing to find some new goals. In the meantime, she’s finishing her master’s degree in environmental policy and management.
Related Stories:
Vermonter’s high-flying performance lands her on Olympic podium
Shelburne native heading to the Olympics
Copyright 2022 WCAX. All rights reserved.