At just two years old, Presley June suffered a life-changing accident that resulted in the loss of her right arm above the elbow, her right leg above the knee, and part of her left foot. On May 25, 2022, the young girl from Kentucky endured what her family described as a freak accident that required multiple surgeries and the beginning of a long journey with prosthetics. Most would expect such trauma to halt a child’s world, yet Presley’s did not stop. Her mother, Jessica Riley, made a deliberate and powerful choice: not to define her daughter by what she had lost, but by what she could still do. “She hasn’t skipped a beat… so how can we?” Riley has said, capturing the family’s approach from the very start.

Instead of limiting her daughter, Riley and Presley’s father allowed her to lead—encouraging her to try, fall, learn, and grow without assuming barriers. They treated her no differently in daily life, supporting her adaptations rather than shielding her from challenges. Presley, now six years old and living near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, is described by her mother as “pure energy wrapped in sunshine.” She wakes up excited for the day and goes to bed already talking about the next thing she wants to attempt. The child who will try something ten times just to prove to herself that she can do it has carried that same determination into gymnastics.

The spark came during a visit to the City Museum in St. Louis, where Presley watched a gymnast perform and immediately declared, “I want to do that.” When her mother contacted a local gym, she was transparent about Presley’s prosthetics and can-do attitude. The coach admitted knowing little about coaching a triple amputee but was willing to learn alongside her. From her first day, Presley walked into the gym with no hesitation and no fear, attempting a forward roll and getting right back up after falling. Together with her coach, she has adapted techniques for the balance beam, bars, vault, and floor, contributing her own ideas to the process. One of her proudest early memories is taking actual steps on the beam without holding on to anyone.

Presley has qualified for state- and regional-level competitions, often competing as the only athlete in her division. She views her true competition as herself and celebrates every small improvement rather than comparing herself to others. A video of her performing a vault went viral, drawing tens of millions of views and inspiring families around the world, including another young amputee who returned to gymnastics after watching her. Coaches, teammates, and strangers cheer loudly for her, yet Presley remains focused on the joy of learning new skills more than the attention.

Jessica Riley’s philosophy is simple and consistent: children are only as limited as the adults around them make them. “Let them lead. Let them try everything. Don’t assume limitations—let them show you what they’re capable of,” she has shared. The family does not lower expectations for Presley; they help her adapt so she can meet them. Through this approach, a little girl who lost three limbs at the age of two has become a competitive gymnast who continues to expand what is possible—not only for herself, but for everyone who watches her move through the world with confidence, creativity, and an unshakable belief that she belongs.

Sources People magazine exclusive interviews with Jessica Riley: “6-Year-Old Triple Amputee Defies Odds in Gymnastic Competitions” and “Mom Shares How She Empowers Triple Amputee Daughter”