Gabby Douglas
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas (born December 31, 1995 in Virginia Beach, Virginia) is an American gymnast. She competed with the United States' women's gymnastics team in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She won gold medals in both the individual all-around and team competitions. (In the "all-around" competition, gymnasts do all four gymnastics activities - balance beam, vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise.)
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Douglas is the first African-American woman in Olympic history to win first place in the individual all-around competition.[1] She is also the first American gymnast who ever won gold medals in both the all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.[1]
Douglas started gymnastics at age 6. Her sister Arielle, who had broken her wrist doing gymnastics, convinced their mother to let Gabby start taking gymnastics classes.[2] In October 2002, Douglas began her training at Gymstrada Gymnastics in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In July 2004, she left Gymstrada and began training at Excalibur Gymnastics.[3][4]
At age 16, Douglas made it to the Olympic Trials. She won first place and got a spot on the United States' 2012 women's gymnastics Olympic team. Her teammates were Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, and Aly Raisman. They won the team all-around gold medal, and Gabby also won the individual all-around gold medal.
Gabby Douglas Media
Douglas at the Secret U.S. Classic in 2012
Douglas (center) on the All-Around podium at the 2012 Olympics
Douglas celebrating with the other Final Five members at the 2016 Olympic Games
Douglas and the other Fierce Five members meeting President Barack Obama after the 2012 Summer Olympics
Douglas alongside Michelle Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2012
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pucin, Diane (June 18, 2012). Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas adjusts well to spring to the top. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-oly-gymnastics-gabby-douglas-20120619,0,7708163,full.story.[dead link]
- ↑ Emmert, Mark (July 2, 2012). Assist from sister sends Gabby Douglas to London. https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/gymnastics/story/2012-07-02/Gabby-Douglas-Olympics-gymnastics-London/55988698/1. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
- ↑ Luca, Olivia (July 7, 2012). From her living room to London: Gabby Douglas strives for success at Olympics. http://www.mercurynews.com/mosaic/ci_21029426/from-her-living-room-london-gabby-douglas-strives.
- ↑ "Gabby Douglas". NBCOlympics.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
Other websites
- AL HAMNIK: Olympic gymnast Gabbrielle Douglas doing it her way. Al Hamnik, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
- Gabby Douglas Mother Sold Her Jewelry To Help Her Daughter Win Gold Medal[dead link]. Camira Powell, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
- Gabrielle Douglas Archived 2013-01-08 at the Wayback Machine. Gabrielle Douglas. United States Olympic Committee, 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012.
- Official website Archived 2013-11-14 at the Wayback Machine