Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas is one of the most successful American gymnasts who through her exceptional finesse made a haven in the hearts of millions. However, Douglas faced numerous challenges throughout her career. In the wake of this, she took a hiatus from the sport unable to cope with these challenges. Still, Douglas never lost her passion for gymnastics and continued to train. Now, with the upcoming 2023 U.S. Classic championships, she is ready to make a remarkable comeback and showcase her skills once again.

Douglas’ comeback announcement has generated a wave of excitement among gymnastics fans. They could not help but revisit Douglas’s incredible performances in her previous competitions. She is determined to prove that she still has what it takes to excel in the sport. Anyone who knows her knows she is a dedicated, hardworking athlete who thrives under pressure. Douglas has been this way ever since she first joined gymnastics.

Who is Gabby Douglas?

Gabby Douglas was born Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas on December 31, 1995. Her parents described her as a determined and fearless child from a young age. Growing up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Douglas began gymnastics at the age of six and quickly showed immense potential.

At age 14, Douglas moved to Iowa to train with renowned coach Liang Chow, who had previously coached Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. Under Chow’s guidance, Douglas honed her skills and became a powerhouse performer. Soon she caught the attention of the national gymnastics team and was selected to represent the United States in the 2011 World Championships.

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Douglas did not earn a medal in her individual event, but helped the U.S. team win a gold medal. Her exceptional performance on the uneven bars earned Douglas the name “the Flying Squirrel” from Martha Karolyi.

Gabby Douglas entered the 2012 Visa Championships with hopes of snatching the all-around champion title from fellow gymnast Jordyn Wieber. She missed the title by a couple of points but earned gold on the uneven bars. This setback spurred Douglas to work even harder and prove herself in the upcoming Olympic trials. She dedicated countless hours to perfecting her routines, and by the time the trials were over, Douglas had already claimed the national all-around title for herself. This gave her a direct entry into the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team for the 2012 London Olympics. Her impeccable routine and dazzling performance are still remembered and celebrated to this day.

Gabby Douglas’ historic achievement at the 2012 London Olympics

Before the 2012 Olympic trials, Douglas was just another gymnast on the team. However, she was not satisfied with her obscurity and wanted to rise to the level of fame as the reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber. Douglas gave the first glimpse of her boundless potential at the U.S. trials by scoring more points than Wieber. She carried that momentum into the London Olympics, where she became the first African-American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. Douglas earned the individual all-around title by defeating Russian gymnast Victoria Komova.

America’s rivalry with Russia in competitive gymnastics has been long-standing, with both countries consistently producing top-tier athletes. Douglas’ victory over Komova with a score of 62.232 not only solidified her own place in history but also gave the American fans bragging rights for the next four years till the 2016 Olympics.

Her performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Douglas was born to be a trailblazer, never content with her achievements. So, she trained even harder for the 2016 Rio Olympics. During this interim period, Douglas had to go through many hardships, physically and mentally. The mental hardships were the hardest to overcome, as Douglas faced immense pressure to defend her title and live up to the expectations set by her previous victory. She was also one of Dr. Nassar’s victims, which added another layer of difficulty to her journey. Douglas also started receiving hateful and racist comments because of her appearance.

All of these took a toll on the mental health of the young athlete. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Virginian superstar helped her squad win the gold but did not do well in her individual events. Douglas finished sixth in the uneven bars, which had been her signature event in the past. To make matters worse, Douglas faced criticism and backlash from the media and public for not appearing enthusiastic about her teammates’ performances during the competition. When the U.S. team was awarded the team gold and the “star-spangled banner” played in the background, Douglas stood at attention. But the other American gymnasts sharing the podium with her had also put their hands on their chests. This gave the bullies a golden opportunity to accuse Douglas of being unpatriotic and disrespectful. The incident quickly went viral, and demands for her removal from the squad started to circulate on social media.

Douglas’ mother, Natalie Hawkins, had to face reporters to support the action of her “heartbroken” daughter. Hawkins spoke to Reuters to explain that as part of a military family, Douglas was taught to stand in attention to the national anthem. But this was not reasonable enough for the bullies who wanted to see a 20-year-old star athlete cry in front of the world. With a heavy heart, Douglas announced that she would be taking a break from her beloved sport and silently walked away from the spotlight, dejected by the way her country had treated her. But she did not announce her retirement, which sustained the hope of her comeback. Recently that hope has been reignited after the superstar gymnast hinted at a possible return to the sport.

Douglas’ return to competitive gymnastics and aim for 2024 Paris Olympics

Gabby Douglas announced on Instagram last month that she wants to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Instagram post read, “There’s so much to be said but for now … let’s do this”. She will have to be in the US Classics and earn a qualifying score. The Classics will start on August 5, and Douglas’ name is still not part of the participant’s list.

Douglas has petitioned the US Classics to allow her to compete for a berth on the Olympic squad. If allowed to compete in the US Classics, Douglas will have to face two other gymnasts who have won the all-around title before. Simone Biles won the title in the 2016 Summer Olympics and has joined the camp to prepare for the tournament. Sunisa “Suni” Lee, another all-around title holder, has also returned to elite competitions after recovering from her kidney problems. Jordan Chiles, who last competed in the Tokyo Games, will also fight for a spot on the U.S Olympic squad for 2024.

Gabby Douglas is aware of the tough competition she will face at the U.S. Classics, but she remains determined and focused on earning a spot on the Olympic squad. She wrote, “I know I have a huge task ahead of me and I am beyond grateful and excited to get back out on the floor”.

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Now it depends on whether the U.S. Classics will allow her to compete. If they do, the world will get the chance to witness the showdown between three great gymnasts. The outcome of this showdown will not only determine her chances of making it to the Olympic squad but also showcase the incredible talent and skill of these athletes on a global stage.

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