University of Georgia Athletics
A Healthy Snyder Thriving Again
January 22, 2026 | Gymnastics, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
When Holly Snyder began preparing for her balance beam routine during the fifth-ranked Georgia gymnastics team's season-opener at Ohio State earlier this month, she thought she was just going to compete in an exhibition, rather than as one of the GymDogs' six counting competitors. Given that the junior had never done the beam in a meet in her collegiate career, that made sense.
But then Georgia co-head coach Ryan Roberts "came up to me and was like, 'Okay, you're in," Snyder said this week. "I was like, Oh, my gosh, okay. I was definitely kind of freaking out inside, but I didn't really have time to freak out."
Whatever nerves Snyder had on the inside didn't show up in her performance. She scored a 9.925 in the event, tying for the highest score among all competitors.
"I'd always been a good beamer, and I just reminded myself of that," she said. "I was like, Holly, you got this; you've done this a million times, and you were supposed to exhibition anyway, so you're just going to do your routine. I ended up doing a great routine."
Snyder, from Annapolis, Md., also competed on the floor in Georgia's 197.000-196.250 win at Ohio State, scoring a 9.850 to tie for sixth. A week later, when the GymDogs knocked off No. 2 LSU at Stegeman Coliseum, 197.200-196.850, Snyder again competed on beam, as well as the uneven bars and floor exercise, and again posted a 9.925.
"They put me in again this past week, and I was grateful for that, too," she said. "I just never would have thought, just with the past two years — I just started beam again. I never would have thought that I would be back on beam, or even landing on my leg again. I'm really proud of myself."
As she should be. While Snyder competed nine times on bars and five times on floor as a freshman, and then competed in all 12 meets on bars and six times on floor last season, injuries have been an ever-present problem during her time at Georgia. First, it was a hip injury that required surgery, and later a foot/Achilles issue that also needed surgery to correct. It has been a taxing journey both physically and mentally.
"I've learned so much about myself," Snyder said. "I've always been very, very hard on myself, just very critical, and I think with the past two years, I've gotten down on myself a lot because I didn't really know what to think. I was just always saying to myself, 'Holly, what the heck, why is this happening to me?'
"There were definitely parts where I was just like, I don't know if I can keep going, just because it's so hard to pick myself back up again after an injury and work through all that mental stuff. But I knew in the back of my head, always, that I was like, No, you got this, keep going."
The junior levels of sports like gymnastics, tennis, golf and swimming are primarily individual affairs. You may have a support system, but it tends to be small. As a member of Georgia's gymnastics team, Snyder has had a big group of teammates, coaches, and more to help keep her upbeat and motivated. Their help has been invaluable, she said.
"Oh, my gosh, our team camaraderie and support we all have for each other is amazing," she said. "Throughout preseason, whenever I would have a bad day, or anyone would have a bad day, someone would always be there to lift you up. ... I think for me, and I know for a lot of other people, having that support and just everyone really wanting you to do well, it means so much. Everyone wants to see everyone else thrive, and you can really feel that."
Snyder's father, Frank, played lacrosse at Navy, and he encouraged her and her three brothers to get involved in sports. Snyder said she played everything from lacrosse to tennis to swimming, as well as gymnastics. A legendary story in her family is how, when she was 2 or 3 years old, she got out of the house and into her neighbors' backyard, where she was eventually found playing on the monkey bars.
"They almost had a whole neighborhood search party looking for me, and then our neighbors found me in the backyard playing on the monkey bars," Snyder said with a laugh. "Our neighbor was like, 'You need to put her in gymnastics classes."
She'd found her sport. And now, she's competing at full strength again and having as much fun as she ever has.
"I'm a lot happier and more calm, just having fun," she said. "I'm a junior already, I only have one more year, which is crazy, so there's nothing else you can do besides enjoy it, because you're never going to get this moment back."
Snyder and the GymDogs compete at No. 2 Oklahoma on Friday. They host a quad meet with Temple, Fisk and Central Michigan at the Steg on Jan. 30.
Staff Writer
When Holly Snyder began preparing for her balance beam routine during the fifth-ranked Georgia gymnastics team's season-opener at Ohio State earlier this month, she thought she was just going to compete in an exhibition, rather than as one of the GymDogs' six counting competitors. Given that the junior had never done the beam in a meet in her collegiate career, that made sense.
But then Georgia co-head coach Ryan Roberts "came up to me and was like, 'Okay, you're in," Snyder said this week. "I was like, Oh, my gosh, okay. I was definitely kind of freaking out inside, but I didn't really have time to freak out."
Whatever nerves Snyder had on the inside didn't show up in her performance. She scored a 9.925 in the event, tying for the highest score among all competitors.
"I'd always been a good beamer, and I just reminded myself of that," she said. "I was like, Holly, you got this; you've done this a million times, and you were supposed to exhibition anyway, so you're just going to do your routine. I ended up doing a great routine."
Snyder, from Annapolis, Md., also competed on the floor in Georgia's 197.000-196.250 win at Ohio State, scoring a 9.850 to tie for sixth. A week later, when the GymDogs knocked off No. 2 LSU at Stegeman Coliseum, 197.200-196.850, Snyder again competed on beam, as well as the uneven bars and floor exercise, and again posted a 9.925.
"They put me in again this past week, and I was grateful for that, too," she said. "I just never would have thought, just with the past two years — I just started beam again. I never would have thought that I would be back on beam, or even landing on my leg again. I'm really proud of myself."
As she should be. While Snyder competed nine times on bars and five times on floor as a freshman, and then competed in all 12 meets on bars and six times on floor last season, injuries have been an ever-present problem during her time at Georgia. First, it was a hip injury that required surgery, and later a foot/Achilles issue that also needed surgery to correct. It has been a taxing journey both physically and mentally.
"I've learned so much about myself," Snyder said. "I've always been very, very hard on myself, just very critical, and I think with the past two years, I've gotten down on myself a lot because I didn't really know what to think. I was just always saying to myself, 'Holly, what the heck, why is this happening to me?'
"There were definitely parts where I was just like, I don't know if I can keep going, just because it's so hard to pick myself back up again after an injury and work through all that mental stuff. But I knew in the back of my head, always, that I was like, No, you got this, keep going."
The junior levels of sports like gymnastics, tennis, golf and swimming are primarily individual affairs. You may have a support system, but it tends to be small. As a member of Georgia's gymnastics team, Snyder has had a big group of teammates, coaches, and more to help keep her upbeat and motivated. Their help has been invaluable, she said.
"Oh, my gosh, our team camaraderie and support we all have for each other is amazing," she said. "Throughout preseason, whenever I would have a bad day, or anyone would have a bad day, someone would always be there to lift you up. ... I think for me, and I know for a lot of other people, having that support and just everyone really wanting you to do well, it means so much. Everyone wants to see everyone else thrive, and you can really feel that."
Snyder's father, Frank, played lacrosse at Navy, and he encouraged her and her three brothers to get involved in sports. Snyder said she played everything from lacrosse to tennis to swimming, as well as gymnastics. A legendary story in her family is how, when she was 2 or 3 years old, she got out of the house and into her neighbors' backyard, where she was eventually found playing on the monkey bars.
"They almost had a whole neighborhood search party looking for me, and then our neighbors found me in the backyard playing on the monkey bars," Snyder said with a laugh. "Our neighbor was like, 'You need to put her in gymnastics classes."
She'd found her sport. And now, she's competing at full strength again and having as much fun as she ever has.
"I'm a lot happier and more calm, just having fun," she said. "I'm a junior already, I only have one more year, which is crazy, so there's nothing else you can do besides enjoy it, because you're never going to get this moment back."
Snyder and the GymDogs compete at No. 2 Oklahoma on Friday. They host a quad meet with Temple, Fisk and Central Michigan at the Steg on Jan. 30.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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