Gabrielle Douglas

Gabrielle Douglas (born December 31, 1995 near Virginia Beach, Virginia is an American gymnastics performer. She competed with the U.S. in 2012 Summer Olympics. She started gymnastics for a few reasons. One was that she impressed her family at age four by doing little “tricks” around the house, like cartwheels. But it was her sister Arielle, who had broken her wrist doing gymnastics, was the person who finally convinced her mom to let Gabby start gymnastics at age 6.

At age 12, Gabby told her mom that to make her “dream real” that she had to go train with coach Yiang Chow. Gabby’s mom looked up Chow’s institute and found that it was in Iowa! Her mom would have to send Gabby halfway across the country. When Gabby was 14, her mom agreed to send her to Iowa. She later got very homesick. She called her mom and begged to come home. Gabby’s mom reminded her why she had decided to go to Iowa. Listening to her mom, Gabby decided to stay. She put in even more effort.

Gabby’s hard work soon paid off. At age 16, Gabby made it to the Olympic Trials. Going up against gymnast Jordyn Wieber, Gabby managed to get first place! The 2012 U.S.A. Gymnastics Olympic team included Gabby, Jordyn, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, and Aly Raisman. The team got first place all around! Gabby also became the first African-American woman to win first place on the individual all around.

References

• 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. Camira Powell, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012.
• Gabrielle Douglas. Gabrielle Douglas. United States Olympic Committee, 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012.