1st Black All Around Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas

Gabby Douglas USA Gold Medalist

Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas born December 31, 1995 in Virginia Beach, VA.  Gabby is affectionately known as the "Flying Squirrel."  She started in gymnastics when she was six years old. At the age of 8 Gabby won the Virginia State Gymnastics Championship.  In 2010 when Gabby was 14 she left Virginia to move to West Des Monies, IA to be trained by Liang Chow.  

Liang Chow is a well known coach in Gymnastics.  He was once a competitor in gymnastics.  He was also the coach to 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson.  This move that Gabby made was not an easy one for a 14 year old.  She left behind her family and friends to live with Travis and Missy Parton.  Travis and Missy Parton volunteered to allow Gabby to live with them while she trained in with Coach Chow.  

At the 2010 Nastia Liukin SuperGirl Cup—a televised meet held in Massachusetts—Douglas made her debut on the national scene, placing fourth all-around. She also placed third on the balance beam, sixth on vault and ninth all-around in the junior division of her first elite meet, the 2010 CoverGirl classic in Chicago, Illinois. Douglas went on to win the silver medal on balance beam and fourth all-around at the 2010 U.S. Junior National Championships, and then took the uneven bars title at the 2010 Pan American Championships. Her performance at that event also placed Douglas at fifth all-around and won her a share of the U.S. team gold medal.

Douglas was a member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the team finals at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. She also won the 2012 Olympic Trials, which took place in San Jose, California, and was selected to the national team that will represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.

Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas is the first black woman to win All Around Gold Medal in Gymnastics.  I also note that she is the first black person to make the U.S.A. Olympic team since Dawes in 2000.

I refuse to give any life to the negative comments that people were saying about this young lady.  You ask what is in a name......DOUGLAS ****** U.S.A. GOLD****** Congratulations to Gabby and her family!!!!!!!!