Before sophomore Lexie Priessman stepped foot onto the LSU campus she was already one of the most established gymnasts in the country. She was a 4-year member of the USA national team where she competed in events around the world.
“I look back at all of the stuff I got out of it, and I look back and I think of all of the girls I’ve met through this experience,” Priessman said. 
One of her best experiences was competing in the Pacific Rim Championships in 2012 where she won gold medals on the Vault and in the Team competition, along with silver in the All-Around.
“We got to compete with Gabby Douglas, Kayla Ross and Jordyn Wieber,” Priessman said.
In all Lexie has won 13 gold medals and 5 silver medals.
Training as an elite gymnast takes a lot of hard work to get ready for competitions. 2008 Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin has been one of the main role models in her life.
“She’s someone that everyone looks up to and being an athlete growing up, she’s just someone that you can always look towards wanting to become like one day,” Priessman said.
But the biggest motivational factor in Lexie’s life has always been her family.
“My family is just someone that they’ve always supported me since day one. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here today.”
When she retired from elite competition Lexie was originally committed to the University of Georgia to compete collegiately. Eventually that decision changed when she decided to commit to LSU after seeing the campus firsthand.
“Something told me one day, LSU is open, they’re ready for a visit. As soon as a I got on campus something hit me inside, and I knew this was where I belonged.”