Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has confirmed her return to competitive gymnastics this month, expressing her intention to vie for a spot on the five-person American squad for the Paris Olympics this year, according to an interview with NBC News.
Key Facts:
- Douglas expressed her longing for competition after watching the USA women’s team secure gold at the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships.
- Making her competitive return on Feb. 24 at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, Douglas re-enters the scene eight years after her last competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- At 28 years old, she will be the oldest gymnast at the Winter Cup and mentioned her hiatus from gymnastics was a conscious decision to prioritize her mental health.
- Having resumed training in 2022, Douglas expressed her willingness to attempt a comeback for the Olympics, emphasizing a day-by-day approach to the competition.
What to Watch For:
- Notable gymnasts, including all-around gold medalists Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee, are also vying for spots on the women’s U.S. Olympic team. If Biles, Lee, and Douglas all make the team, they would represent the last three women to claim Olympic all-around gold medals, with the final decision resting in the hands of a selection committee.
Key Background:
- Specializing in the uneven bars, Douglas clinched all-around gold at the London 2012 Olympics at the age of 17. She secured two additional gold medals in team events at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- After an extended break from competition, Douglas resumed training at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in 2022, a facility that has also seen Olympic all-around champions Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin train.