Gabby Douglas

Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas began formal gymnastics training at the early age of 6, and by the age of 8, she had won her first major title as the 2004 Virginia Level 4 State Champion. At 15, Douglas became a member of the Gold-winning team at the 2011 World Championships and went on to win the Gold medal in Uneven Bars, Silver in All-Around, and Bronze in Floor at the 2012 U.S. National Championships.

After winning the 2012 Olympic trials, Douglas secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics team to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. There, she became the first African-American woman and woman of color of any nationality to win an Olympic Gold medal as the All-Around Individual Champion. In addition to winning a Team Gold medal, she became the first American gymnast to win Gold in the All-Around individual and team competitions at the same Olympics.

Following the London Games, Douglas became one of the most influential female athletes in the world, at the center of pop culture. Some highlights of her 2012 whirlwind media tour included appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a feature interview with Oprah Winfrey, being interviewed and named to Barbara Walters's list as one of the "10 Most Fascinating People of 2012", cameos' on Disney's hit show Kickin' It and the CW's The Vampire Diaries, leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, being named the 2012 Associated Press "Female Athlete of the Year", and gracing the covers of top magazines like Time, People, Essence, and Sports Illustrated.

Douglas also released two New York Times best-selling books titled Raising the Bar and Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith. And in 2013, her life story was portrayed in the Lifetime TV Movie "The Gabby Douglas Story."

In 2015, after taking a two-year break from the sport, Douglas burst back onto the elite gymnastics scene. She won Silver in the All-Around competition at the World Championships and Gold with Team USA. She is the first reigning Olympic All-Around champion since 1981 to return to the sport and win a World Championships medal. Douglas also secured Gold at the 2016 AT&T American Cup and the City of Jesolo Trophy. Then, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Gabby won her third Olympic Gold medal in the Team competition as the only All-Around Olympic Gold Medal gymnast in U.S. history to return to a second Olympics and win another Gold medal.

After the games, Douglas got her very own Gabby Douglas Barbie doll, continued to expand her career as an Executive Producer, Actress, TV Personality, Ambassador, Speaker, and Host, and has received numerous prestigious awards and honors both on and off the mat.

Hailed as an inspiration to millions worldwide, she is recognized for being an influential positive role model and mental health advocate. Douglas has continuously overcome tremendous adversity and is a shining example of what kindness, hard work, and perseverance can do.