Through numerous surgeries and setbacks, sophomore all-arounder Lexie Priessman has stayed motivated and determined in her gymnastics career.
After completing several years of homeschooling to compete on the U.S. National Team, Priessman said she would do it all over again because of her passion for gymnastics.
At the age of four, Priessman began her gymnastics journey with her twin sister Leah. Their older sister Jenna was in gymnastics at the time and influenced their decision to become involved in the sport.
“Still to this day I have a passion for gymnastics,” Priessman said. “I always had that passion for gymnastics since I was a little kid. Some days, I’d be at gymnastics at six in the morning. It showed in the gym because I always wanted to be there. Leah didn’t like it as much so she stopped, but I stayed with it.”
Lexie made a name for herself around the age of 11.
“My first big competition was the Nastia Liukin Cup,” said Lexie. “That’s when everything shot from there.”
When Lexie and her family recognized the potential she had, they began homeschooling her in sixth grade.
“That [homeschooling] was hard for me at first,” Lexie said. “I have a twin sister who went to grade school and high school, and seeing her do that, make new friends and go to proms and homecomings, even graduation, that was probably one of the hardest things for me. I didn’t do that.”
Although Lexie didn’t have the normal high school experience, she is grateful for the opportunities and friendships gymnastics has brought her. She emphasized how her dedication and sacrifices have paid off to get her where she is today.
“I look back and I wouldn’t change it,” Lexie said. “I loved gymnastics so much that homeschooling was so worth it. Because I loved it so much, I didn’t care that I missed out on things.”
Lexie competed on the same team as Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas and cherishes their friendships, advice and support.
“Being on the USA team with them is something to this day I still cherish,” Lexie said. “Knowing that they are Olympic gold medalist and I traveled and roomed with them is fun to look back at and see how far we’ve come.”
During Lexie’s gymnastics career, she faced many injuries and underwent a lot of surgeries. Her dedication to gymnastics and support from Biles and her family members kept her motivated to recover and compete again.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to get through my injuries,” Lexie said. “Even though I didn’t make the Olympic team due to injuries, it never defined who I am as a gymnast.”
Lexie underwent surgeries on her toe, left ankle and both shoulders.
“My first surgery I ever had was on my toe,” Lexie said. “It would dislocate all the time. I had two ankle surgeries. I had reconstruction on my left ankle where they put pins and screws in. They actually had to go back in again and fix some more stuff. I had both my labrums, right and left, in my shoulders done.”
After all the surgeries, Lexie kept a positive and resilient attitude.
“It was all worth it,” Lexie said. “I’m here now. Sometimes, it gets to me and I wish I didn’t have to go through them, but it was all in God’s plan. That was all in His plan, so I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Outside of gym, Lexie is always keeping up with her family and values the time spent with them.
“My twin sister and I are both very outgoing,” Priessman said about Leah. “We both love talking to people, but we are still different. She’s a normal college student in cosmetology and I’m in the gym practicing. I love her to death and I’m blessed to have her as my sister.”
When Lexie was younger, her mother would dress Leah and Lexie in matching outfits anytime she could.
“We always had big bows,” Lexie said. “At the gym, we wore the same leotards, and people had a hard time telling us apart.”
Priessman has two older siblings that she loves and looks up to. Jenna is the oldest sister and second oldest sibling.
Jenna did cheerleading at the University of Cincinnati. Her only brother and oldest sibling Nicholas played baseball at Eastern Illinois University.
“Nicholas is a role model to me,” Lexie said. “He knows what it’s like going through a college sport and handling school and communicating with your family 13 hours away. He’s been there every step of the way, and so has the rest of my family.”

Gallery • 2 Photos

Augustus Stark

LSU sophomore Lexie Priessman celebrates during the Tigers' 197.425-195.425 win over Missouri on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.