From Hurdles to Highs: Maggi Thorne’s Journey of Resilience and Purpose

Ricky C. Simmons sits down with the dynamic and inspiring Maggi Thorne—a woman who has transformed personal hardship into powerful purpose. Through sports, setbacks, and a fierce commitment to never giving up, Maggi’s story is a testament to perseverance, faith, and finding one’s “why.” Over the course of a deeply personal conversation, the two longtime friends trace Maggi’s path from a troubled childhood to national track titles, a prominent role in collegiate athletics, appearances on American Ninja Warrior, and global advocacy work.

Finding Hope Through Hurdles

Maggi’s early years in San Diego were marked by instability. Growing up in a low-income household with two brothers frequently in and out of jail, her childhood was filled with uncertainty and limited opportunity. By age 12, she felt hopeless. That changed when a physical education teacher noticed her speed and encouraged her to try out for the track team. With no formal training and no running shoes, she showed up in streetwear, three-stepped her first hurdle run, and launched a career that would eventually make her the number one runner in California.

For Maggi, this single opportunity altered the course of her life. She realized that what once felt like opposition could instead be seen as opportunity. That mindset became her foundation moving forward.

Becoming a Husker—and Finding Identity Through Loss

Maggi’s success on the track earned her a full-ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska. The transition from California to Nebraska wasn’t easy. Culture shock, intense weather, and academic pressure quickly set in. And while she arrived with a big ego from being nationally ranked in high school, college humbled her. Competing alongside international champions, she struggled to stand out and eventually lost her scholarship.

Yet again, Maggie chose resilience. She stayed in Nebraska, rededicated herself to the sport, and returned as the top sprinter on the team. For the first time, she fell in love with track—not for the accolades, but for the process and the discipline it required.

Cleaning Stadiums to Leading Multi-Million Dollar Projects

After graduation, Maggi took a job in the University of Nebraska’s athletic facilities department—starting at the bottom as a custodian. She vacuumed suites, cleaned bleachers, and even made rookie mistakes like power-washing her own foot. But she never saw it as beneath her. She viewed it as an opportunity.

Mentored by Husker Power founder Boyd Epley, Maggi began taking on more responsibility. She taught herself architectural design programs by watching experts in meetings she wasn’t even invited to. Eventually, she was promoted—beating out a candidate with a master’s degree in architecture—and led over $340 million in capital construction projects.

Choosing Purpose Over Comfort

Despite a successful career in athletics administration, Maggi knew she was being called to something more. When her best friend died by suicide, the experience changed her. Standing at the gravesite, she felt a spiritual nudge to “build people, not buildings.” She left her prestigious role and stepped into the unknown.

This choice wasn’t supported by everyone. In fact, several colleagues warned her that she was making the biggest mistake of her life. But Maggi trusted her purpose.

Mud Races, Pageants, and Advocacy

Looking for new ways to combine her competitive spirit with advocacy, Maggi entered the world of obstacle racing. She became one of the top female competitors in the sport, including a second-place finish at the World’s Toughest Mudder—completing 75 miles and 330 obstacles in 24 hours.

To better communicate her message, she took on an even more unexpected challenge: a global pageant. Competing in the Mrs. International competition, Maggi trained for stage presence, storytelling, and media engagement. She won the crown and used her platform to advocate for Soles4Souls, an organization that provides shoes to those in need—a mission close to her heart, as she remembered running track in high school without proper shoes.

Through her campaign, she helped collect over 100,000 pounds of donated footwear and traveled the world distributing them.

American Ninja Warrior and a Public Setback

Maggi’s next chapter brought her to national television as a competitor on American Ninja Warrior. Initially, she failed the very first obstacle in her debut. But rather than be embarrassed, she celebrated the attempt and used her failure to connect with people. Rejected repeatedly in the years that followed, she kept trying. Finally, after five years, she returned to the show as one of its top competitors.

Then, tragedy struck. During a run, she suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a fall that went undiagnosed by multiple medical teams. Eventually, a doctor recognized her symptoms and she was admitted into Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Over the course of a year, Maggi underwent intensive outpatient therapy for 20 hours a week, working with six specialists to recover her vision, speech, mobility, and cognitive functions.

This experience became a defining chapter in her “never give up” mantra. For a time, the words felt hollow—even painful—but Maggi eventually embraced them as a declaration of purpose. Supported by friends and her own inner resolve, she returned to American Ninja Warrior, competing in multiple seasons after her injury.

Speaking, Parenting, and Legacy

Beyond athletics, Maggi has become a motivational speaker, sharing her story with youth across the country. She encourages audiences to pursue self-discovery, to find their “why,” and to embrace discomfort as a necessary part of growth. Whether it’s with students, corporate teams, or young athletes, she believes vulnerability is what connects people the most.

She also finds joy and inspiration in parenting. Her children—now high-performing student athletes—have grown up watching their mother push past every limit. One of her most poignant moments came when her daughter asked, “Mom, aren’t you going back to American Ninja Warrior? You tell everyone to never give up.” That question rekindled Maggi’s fire and led to her comeback.

Final Thoughts: A Life Built from the Ground Up

Maggi Thorne’s story isn’t a neatly packaged tale of success—it’s a roadmap of resilience. From growing up in poverty to breaking track records, from losing her scholarship to leading massive projects, from falling publicly to rising stronger—her life exemplifies what it means to fall forward.

She is proof that credentials don’t define capacity, and that persistence often outperforms pedigree. Maggi doesn’t just say “never give up”—she lives it. And through every chapter, she offers a reminder that each of us has the power to turn adversity into impact—if we’re just willing to keep showing up.

This blog post is based on a transcript from the Look Like Somebody podcast episode released on March 25^th 2025.

Motivational keynote speaker and author of “The Explosion of Redemption: Trying to Win the Game of Personal Forgiveness in Life: The Journey of Former NFL Player Ricky C. Simmons” and “365 Days of Redemption: Daily Journal of Inspirational Quotes by Former NFL Player and Substance Abuse Motivational Speaker Ricky C. Simmons”. Ricky shares inspiring interviews from people in business, sports, entertainment, and everything in-between–to inspire YOU to know that there is power in a positive mental attitude, and that REDEMPTION IS POSSIBLE!

Edited by Grace Dunbar