Gabrielle Christina Victoria ‘Gabby’ Douglas, an American artistic gymnast, has made a significant impact in the world of gymnastics. With her exceptional skills and determination, she has brought multiple gold medals to the United States in the 2012 Olympics as part of the renowned ‘Fierce Five’ Women’s Gymnastics Team. Gabby’s success extends beyond the Olympics, as she has also achieved gold and silver medals in team and individual competitions at the Gymnastics World Championships. She made history as the first woman of African descent to become an all-around champion in Olympic history and the first American woman to achieve both team and individual champion titles simultaneously. Gabby’s inspiring journey has even been portrayed in the motion picture ‘The Gabby Douglas Story’ and she continues to captivate audiences through her appearances on reality television, such as the series ‘Douglas Family Gold’.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas
- Age: 27 Years, 27 Year Old Females
- Family: father: Timothy Douglas, mother: Natalie Hawkins, siblings: Arielle Douglas, Johnathan Douglas, Joyelle Douglas
- Born Country: United States
- Gymnasts
- American Women
- Height: 5’2″ (157 cm), 5’2″ Females
- U.S. State: Virginia
- City: Newport News, Virginia
Childhood & Early Life
Gabby Douglas was born on December 31, 1995, in Virginia to Timothy Douglas and Natalie Hawkins Douglas. She has three older siblings – two sisters and a brother. At a young age, Gabby showed a natural inclination towards gymnastics and her flexible body encouraged her parents to consider training her in the sport. At the age of 6, Gabby’s elder sister convinced her parents to enroll her in gymnastic classes. This marked the beginning of her hardcore gymnastic training in October 2004, which would pave the way for her successful career as a gymnast.
Career
Gabby quickly started participating in competitions and wowed judges and spectators with her high-flying skills. At the age of 8, she surprised everyone by winning an all-round competition at the Virginia State Championships in 2004. Recognizing her superior talent, Gabby’s parents allowed her to move to Iowa to train under the guidance of Coach Liang Chow when she was just fourteen. Gabby considers this period of time as the stepping stone of her professional career.
In her first national debut, Gabby secured 10th place at the US Classic in 2008. Throughout the next year, she faced injuries and was away from most major competitions. In 2010, she had a relatively unremarkable year except for winning a silver medal at the U.S. Junior National Championships. Later that year, she suffered an injury and took the time to sharpen her bar skills, which her coach identified as her weakness.
Gabby tasted success at the senior level with a gold medal in the City of Jesolo Trophy in 2011. She and her teammates also secured a gold medal at the World Championship held in Tokyo that year. Her victory at the 2012 Olympic trials earned her a place in the national team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She gained attention from the national team’s coordinator, Martha Karoyli, who nicknamed her ‘Flying Squirrel’ due to her high-flying skills. At the Olympics, Gabby was an integral part of the gold-winning US team. She also won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, achieving celebrity status in the United States.
After her Olympic victory, Gabby continued her training under different coaches and took time to further hone her skills. She made a comeback in 2015, participating in the City of Jesolo Trophy and securing the second spot in the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastic Championship held in Glasgow, Scotland. Despite being placed 7th in the Olympic trials, she secured a spot in the 2016 Olympics and played a massive role in the gold medal victory for the US team.
Personal Life
Throughout her years in the limelight, Gabby has faced severe criticism and controversies. She has been accused of bleaching her skin, undergoing breast enhancement treatment, and exhibiting ‘unpatriotic’ behavior at international events. Gabby has denied these accusations, but they have taken a toll on her emotional and psychological health.
Gabby, along with her mother, produced a film based on her life for the Lifetime Channel when she was just 20 years old. She has also had her own reality TV show called ‘Douglas Family Gold’.
Awards
In 2012, Gabby became the fourth gymnast in American history to be honored with the Associated Press’s award ‘Female Athlete of the Year’. The following year, she received two BET awards for her accomplishments in the sport.
Trivia
Right before the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gabby had almost decided to quit the sport for good because she desired a normal life. She also has her own Barbie doll modeled after her and is a self-confessed dog person with two dogs.