Gbby Bryjax Essay

GABBY DOUGLAS: AN AMERICAN CHAMPION
Gabrielle Christina Victoria “Gabby” Douglas is an African-American artistic gymnast on the Women’s US National team. Gabby was born on December 31, 1995. Gabby comes from a poor family, at one point they were even homeless. Through faith, hope, and hard work, Gabby and her family have recovered from poverty. Ever since Gabby was a little girl, she always had a strong passion for gymnastics, and through years of vigorous training, and hard work she made the 2012 Olympic team. Gabby Douglas had a very successful gymnastics career, but most people only know about her major accomplishments in the 2012 Olympics. Most people do not know about her achievements in her early life, her transition to Iowa, or even

According to Sarah Jane Brian, author of the article “Gabby’s Road to Gold,” throughout her life, Gabby and her family struggled with money, health, bullying, and self-confidence. According to Gabrielle Douglas, Olympic gymnast, and author of the book “Grace, Gold, and Glory,” Gabby’s mother almost bled to death when she gave birth to Gabby. In February of 1996, Gabby and her family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma (15-16). When Gabby was just two months old, her family became homeless and, they lived in a van. Gabby had a deadly blood disease, and her parents did not know it (Brian). Gabrielle Douglas says, “They’d diagnosed me with a life threatening disease called Branched Chain Ketoaciduria” (Douglas 19). According to Simon Perry, author of the article “Gabby the Great,” her parents separated in 2001. Gabby and her siblings rarely got to see their dad because he was in the Air Force, and he was always in Afghanistan or Iraq. Gabby’s mother, Natalie Hawkins, was a single mother raising four kids (Perry). Gabby’s siblings gave up their own sports, and her mom worked two jobs just to pay for Gabby’s gymnastics. At the gym, Gabby dealt with racist bullying

After the 2012 Olympics in London, England, Gabby moved to Los Angeles, California to be with her family. Gabby lived in Los Angeles for eight months before moving back to West Des Moines (Armour). Nine months after the Olympics, Gabby continued to train with coach Liang Chow in Des Moines, Iowa (Whiteside). In July, 2014, Gabby left Chow’s gym, but Gabby will not say why. Gabby is now training full time at Buckeye Gymnastics in Columbus, Ohio. Gabby trains seven hours a day, six days a week. Within a month of training, Gabby was in good enough shape to attend her first national team training camp since the Olympics (Armour). Gabby is planning to compete in the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (About Gabrielle Douglas). Gabby is staying focused on the 2016 Olympics, she plans on not making any plans, like red carpet appearances, or commercial opportunities before the 2016 Olympics. Gabby’s first competition after the 2012 London Olympics was three years later, at the 2015 U.S. Secret Classic, where she placed second in the all-around (Armour). According to Lynn Rutherford, author of the article “Gabby Douglas Wins AT&T American Cup,” In March of 2016, Gabby won the AT&T American Cup