Gabby Douglas

By samanthas

  • Birthdate

    Birthdate
    Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

  • Training

    Training
    She began formal gymnastics training at six-years-old.

  • Championship

    Championship
    Gabby won a state championship by the time she was eight.

  • Deployment Overseas

    Deployment Overseas
    Her dad was deployed overseas as a member of the Air National Guard, so a family Gabby got close with provided her with some stability as her mom was struggling to make ends meet as a single parent.

  • Meeting Liang Chow

    Meeting Liang Chow
    Gabby met Shawn Johnson's former coach Liang Chow at age twelve.

  • Moving

    Moving
    When Gabby turned fourteen, she left her hometown and family, and moved to West Des Moines, Iowa to train with Liang Chow.

  • U.S. Gymnastics Team

    U.S. Gymnastics Team
    She was a member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the team finals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

  • London Olympic Games

    London Olympic Games
    At the Summer Olympic Games at sixteen, Gabby was a part of the U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team that won the team gold medal, and Gabby was the first African American to win gold in the individual all-around event.