The road to Rio 2016 is less than 500 days away. It’s a journey of a lifetime, taking some gymnasts over a decade to achieve. Few will make their debut to shine next summer at the Olympic Games on the big stage. Athletes, fans are you ready? This week’s spotlight is Olympic silver medalist, Chellsie Memmel. Breaking into the elite scene in 2003, Memmel was part of the U.S. team to win its first World Championship title. Their team was inducted in 2008 into USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She was back for more bling in 2005 to become the first U.S. woman to win the all-around gold medal since Shannon Miller in 1994. She reached her competitive peak in 2008 securing a spot on the Olympic Team in Beijing, China. She fought through a severe injury a (broken foot) to help the team capture the silver medal. Winning seven World and Olympic medals, Memmel is the sixth most decorated U.S. female gymnast in history. To say the least, Memmel has been a mainstay of the U.S. gymnastics effort for nearly a decade.

So, where is she now? What is her motivational mantra for gymnasts training for Rio 2016? We caught up with Memmel to reflect on her Olympic journey, coming out of retirement and her newest role…motherhood.

It’s hard to believe a little over two years ago Memmel retired from elite gymnastics only to shock the country to announce a comeback in July 2013. At the age of 25 she began training in power tumbling with a goal of competing for Team USA & USA Gymnastics at World Cup and World Championships.

“Justin Millerbernd, one of the greatest coaches in power tumbling asked if our family’s gym at M&M Gymnastics had a rod floor and if I ever considered being a power tumbler,” said Memmel. “He put a bug in my ear and got me thinking. Tumbling has always been one of my favorite things and I know tumbling on the rod floor is easier on the body.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t get very far in her training. Bad luck or more accurately the family Labrador ran into Memmel’s leg leaving her with a tibia fracture just 13 days before saying her “I do’s” to husband Kory Maier.

“Looking back it’s a funny story,” said Memmel. “My leg took a really long time to heal. I ended up needing surgery in March of 2014. I wanted to give power tumbling a shot, but things really slowed down and in May of 2014 I found out I was pregnant.”

In February 2015 the couple announced the birth of their son Dashel Dean Maier, named after the 10-year-old super hero in the movie, The Incredibles.

“He’s a good baby, we got lucky,” said Memmel. Her biggest challenge as a new mom, “not to screw things up, we’re in charge of this little human. I definitely would like to have one or two more for sure.”

With family support in Wisconsin, it wasn’t long before Memmel was back out on the floor judging an invitational when Dashel was just 5 weeks old.

The queen of comebacks may have some unfinished tumbling business. Will we be seeing Memmel out on the floor again?

“We’ll see, I’m not going to say I’m going to make a comeback or anything,” laughed Memmel. We’re going to concentrate on this little guy. I’ll be judging later this year at classics and nationals, coaching and visiting some summer camps here and there.”

Memmel’s personal life is filled with joy as she falls deeper in love with her little family. However, she will always have a love of gymnastics and will continue to be an ambassador of the sport. As she reminisces about life before family, she says her proudest Olympic moment in Beijing was standing on the podium receiving the silver medal with her teammates. It was a moment she had dreamed about her entire life.

“What I take away from my journey leading up to the 2008 Olympics is that anything is possible when you set your mind to it,” said Memmel. “Going through all the ups and downs that I had in my career and still doing whatever it took to accomplish my goal proved to me that anything is possible, even on days I didn’t know if I wanted to continue.”

Throughout Memmel’s gymnastics career she faced adversities, providing inspiration to many young gymnasts. Life lessons she says she now carries over. Her never-give up attitude and determination made her one of the fiercest competitors in the sport.

“I tell the kids I coach, to set a goal and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way, because I got so much help,” said Memmel.

Memmel’s motivational mantra to those who aspire to make the next Olympic team is to that with hard work anything is possible if you’re willing to put the time and effort it’s all worth it in the end.