Gabrielle Douglas

"Having moved far from home to train for the Olympics, Gabby Douglas told her mother when she was 15 years old that she was ready to throw in the towel, move home, and 'get a job at Chick-Fil-A.' Douglas texted her mother, 'gymnastics is not my passion anymore,' according to the New York Daily News" (Healey, Carrie). The only thing that kept her going were her coaches, family, and fans that were rallied up behind her. But ultimately, the love of her sport urged her on. Gabrielle Douglas was born December 31, 1995 in Virginia Beach Virgin. Gabrielle started gymnastics the first time at the age of six by the time she was eight she was state champion. She moved away from her birthplace, at fourteen to follow through with training with a world-renowned Olympic trainer Liang Chow, and was nominated to compete with the U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics (The Biography Channel website). Along with her other teammates, 'The Furious Five, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Jordyn Wieber, they all took a gold for the U.S.A gymnastics team. A hero must possess determination to fight through and pursue anything that needs to be accomplished, without it, a hero would not have the drive to do anything. In addition one should have bravery to stand up for what is right and have the guts to do what no one else has done before. Last but not least, a hero needs to be able to overcome anything that stands in his or hers way. These qualities makes them able to succeed in anything that is thrown their direction. Gabrielle possesses determination, bravery, and the ability to overcome anything, making her a hero. 

It takes a lot of bravery to stand up on a four inch beam, much like when Gabby says, "When a task becomes super difficult, we will flip out and quit or we will stay focused and keep fighting" (47 Gabrielle Douglas). That would soon lead Gabby to winning a gold medal and that much bravery to assist her in her career as a gymnast. When the tough gets going we usually stop and try to do something easier, but someone who is brave will keep thriving, even when the skills were difficult she never shied away from the sport. Gymnastics demands a lot of bravery in order to execute complicated skills. Through the tough metal blocks and fears of learning new things Gabby kept striving for harder skills by teaching to challenge herself. By the fearless age of four Gabby was ready to be a gymnast, "By age 4, Douglas had taught herself how to do a one-handed cartwheel." (The Biography Channel website). Even then she took her gymnastics career into her own hands. She was brave enough to even start teaching herself knew skills in order to progress in her gymnastics further. Gabby continued to teach herself new skills until the age of six when she received real training. The gym owner of Gymstrada was floored by her advanced progress. He claimed that her talent was too sophisticated for just recreational classes. (Gabrielle Douglas 29). Little did this coach know her bravery would take her all the way to the London Olympics in 2012.

Gabby overcame man challenges including her family's financial circumstances. Although they did not make life simple, they never stopped Gabby from trying to achieve her goals. When money become an issue that was never the setback when Gabby's dream was just in reach. Despite little income Gabrielle was grateful for what she had and could afford. Macur Juliet explains their situation, "...a debt collector and single mother, was not buying it. She was already stretched thin, trying to keep [her] house, cut coupons and juggle four children. Douglas and her sisters were undeterred." Gabby's family struggled with money but her family was so involved in Gabby's dream that they were willing to sacrifice anything. Regardless of the expensive sport her mother raised any money she could to keep Gabrielle still latched on to her Olympic dream. Siblings Arielle, Jonathan, and Joelle gave up their passions just to supply Gabby with enough money so that she could make it to her dream. Gabrielle's mother kept that goal fed even at the cost of working around the clock.  Not only was money a hindrance, but her the teammates at gym constantly tried to knock her down by saying, "Why doesn't Gabby do it? She's our slave." (80 Gabrielle Douglas). Teammates even brought up things about her race to make her feel less than those around her. Even through the teasing that went on in the gym Gabby over-came it all. Many amounts of her fellow teammates were jealous of Gabby's talent for gymnastics and thought teasing would bring her down, but that only fueled her fire, helping her become better. Occasionally she was put down by the people that were supposed to help her strive to become better such as her coaches made fun of her appearance. Gabrielle's love of gymnastics was far too resilient to let this stand in her way. When the bumps in the road strained to dissuade her from her dream, she never let that distract her. Through a positive attitude she had the strength to overcome it all.

Gabrielle was able to stay focused on her goal to be an Olympian and make history all at the same time. Gabby stayed valiant going to any extent to be where she needed to whether it was traveling to Iowa to train away from family or having to sacrifice a life as a normal teenager. Most of all she had the power to overcome any uphill battles that were standing in her way whether they be financial problems or people trying to put her down. Gabrielle Douglas is an inspiration to me because of these astounding attributes she has. Being a gymnast myself, she has motivated me into trying to develop these qualities myself. Not only has she inspired me but also gymnast all over the world and other people that are trying to reach their dreams too. In the end, Gabby show us that our struggles gives us willpower and those who work through the hardships are always winners. By means of Gabrielle Douglas's determination, bravery and her power to overcome Gabby got to the Olympics allowing her to ware her richly deserved gold medal in the Summer London Olympics of 2012.