Holly Snyder is back-and she’s making it loud and clear on the beam.
The Georgia junior is off to a blazing start this season, posting back-to-back 9.925s on beam in her first two meets. First came a strong showing on the road at No.
21 Ohio State on Jan. 10.
Then she followed it up with another 9.925 in Georgia’s home opener against powerhouse No. 2 LSU on Jan.
- For any gymnast, that’s impressive.
But for Snyder, it’s something more-it’s a statement of resilience.
The Maryland native has battled through more than her fair share of setbacks. Her journey to this point has been anything but smooth, marked by two major surgeries in the span of just over a year-hip surgery in June 2024 and foot surgery after the 2025 season. Now, just months removed from those procedures, she’s not only back in the lineup, she’s thriving.
“I competed on beam for the first time last week, so getting another 9.9 was just a really proud moment for me,” Snyder said. “I’ve gone through two surgeries in the last year... even just being on the beam again and landing on my leg again is a really proud moment.”
And she’s earned every bit of that pride.
Snyder’s injury history dates back to her freshman year, when a bad landing just before the season opener led to a microfracture in her hip. The diagnosis wasn’t immediate-MRIs were inconclusive, and even the doctors weren’t sure what was wrong at first. But Snyder pushed through, adjusting her routines on floor and bars to protect the injury, showing grit and adaptability even as she competed through pain.
Eventually, she underwent surgery that involved shaving down the bone and drilling into it-“a whole bunch of stuff,” as she put it with a laugh. The initial recovery timeline was six to nine months, but Snyder beat the clock, returning to bars at the start of her sophomore season.
Then came another curveball. After finishing her second year, doctors discovered what she described as an “extra bone” on the back of her heel.
More surgery, more rehab. Another mountain to climb.
But once again, Snyder fought her way back, returning to tumbling in August ahead of her junior campaign.
“Those two surgeries, it was like a lot mentally,” she admitted. “I knew coming into college that I could do so much.
I had a lot of potential. Finally, being back and working on four events again, competing on beam again, landing on my leg again-it’s just really amazing.
My teammates have to remind me a lot about how much I’ve gone through.”
That’s the kind of perspective you don’t always see on the stat sheet, but it’s what makes Snyder’s early-season success so meaningful. She’s not just putting up scores-she’s reclaiming her career.
Now at 2-0 after a statement win over LSU, Georgia is riding high and looking ahead to a marquee matchup on the road. The GymDogs travel to Norman next to face Oklahoma (2-0-1) on Jan. 23, with the meet airing at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
If Snyder’s comeback is any indication, Georgia’s season is just getting started-and she’s right in the heart of it.