'Magnificent Seven' Olympics star Shannon Miller motivating others after surviving ovarian cancer
Before the dominance of Fierce Five and the Final Five in women's gymnastics, there was the Magnificent Seven, the United States' first gold-medal winning team. Shannon Miller led the squad that competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and she remains one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time.
The former gymnast has had to overcome bigger challenges than competitors on the balance beam in recent years. In 2011, Miller was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She had surgery to have a baseball-sized tumor removed and also underwent extensive chemotherapy. Miller is now cancer-free and has become an advocate for women's health while keeping a foot in the gymnastics world.
When did Miller compete in the Olympics?
Miller competed at two Olympic Games: Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. She attempted to qualify for a third Olympics in 2000 but withdrew from the Olympic Trials because of a knee injury.
How many medals did Miller win?
Miller is currently the second most-decorated American gymnast of all time, behind only Simone Biles. She owns a total of seven Olympic medals, two of which are gold. Miller's gold medals both came from the 1996 Games — one for the team competition and one on the balance beam. She also competed in the individual all-around, finishing eighth overall.
Her two silver and three bronze medals were won at the 1992 Olympics. Miller won silver in the individual all-around and on balance beam, and she earned bronze on the uneven bars, the floor exercise and the team competition.
What records does Miller hold?
Miller currently has more career Olympic medals than any other American gymnast at seven, but that record will likely be overtaken by Biles at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Biles won five medals at her first Games in Rio de Janeiro and will only need three this time to top Miller's total.
Miller was also the first American woman to medal in the individual all-around in a fully attended Olympics. Mary Lou Retton medaled in the all-around at the 1984 Games, which were boycotted by 14 Eastern Bloc countries.
Miller is currently the only gymnast to be inducted twice into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. She was inducted first as an individual in 2006 and then with the rest of the Magnificent Seven as a team in 2008. She is also in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
What is Miller doing now?
After retiring from gymnastics, Miller earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and a law degree from Boston College. She launched her company, Shannon Miller Lifestyle, in 2010 to promote health and fitness for women, and she also runs the Shannon Miller Foundation which works to combat childhood obesity. In 2015, she published a memoir chronicling her journey to the Olympics and her battle with cancer. She has also served as an analyst and commentator for several past Olympic Games.
Miller is currently a motivational speaker and advocate for women's and children's health. She has two children: an 11-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter.
Catch up with other Olympic legends:
Where can you follow Miller?
Miller is on Twitter and Instagram at @shannonmiller96, and she also has a YouTube channel where she posts gymnastics clips, fitness tips and motivational videos.
Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@usatoday.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where is Shannon Miller now? Update on American Olympic gymnast