Gabby Douglas

  A young girl perfects her first cartwheel in a matter of a few days. Twelve years later, that same girl is an Olympic champion. This incredible accomplishment comes from one of the youngest Olympic successors: Gabrielle Douglas, also known as Gabby. Gabby Douglas was born on December 31, 1995. She grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a child, gymnastics came quite naturally for her. Her sister taught her a technique that allowed her to do a perfect cartwheel in a very short time. A year later, she taught herself how to do a one-handed cartwheel. Her sister eventually convinced her mother to have Gabby participate in the sport. When Douglas was 14, she begged her mother to let her move 1,600 miles away to train with a renowned coach, Liang Chow. He was famous for training other Olympic successes, such as, Shawn Johnson. Since she was so passionate and serious about the sport, she wanted him to train her. The only gym he trained in was his own, in Des Moines, Iowa. With a heavy heart, her mother released her to live in Iowa with a wonderful family that Gabby would get to know for the next two years to come. Those two years of training with Liang Chow paid off; she made it to the 2012 Summer Olympics. There, she earned a gold medal for the individual all-around competition and a gold medal for her team. Gabby Douglas is blessed with two wonderful qualities, devotion to her sport, and strength to keep moving forward. This is only one of the few things that make her a hero.

Gabby Douglas was very devoted to her everyday role as a professional teenage gymnast. She was willing to do whatever it took to make her dreams come true.  "When she was 14, Douglas made the decision to train with the coach Liang Chow in Des Moines, Iowa, leaving her family behind in Virginia Beach." says Biography.com. She loved the sport do much to be able to leave her family and live with complete strangers to train, and excel to move on the Olympics. She was willing to do a lot of things to accomplish her dreams. Her family also wanted the best for her. They were a huge contributor to her success as well. If you truly love something, it must be taken seriously. Famous musicians never had the chance to play for hundreds of people by not practicing. "Gold medals are made from your sweat, blood, and tears and sacrificing a lot." says Gabby Douglas. This is very true. If you want to have a successful career in whatever it may be that you're passionate about, you have to work hard to get there. Gabby Douglas shows this in all of her accomplishments. If she had only given 98% of the devotion that it took to achieve to where she is now, she wouldn't have made it. Gabby Douglas's devotion to this sport is incredible. She took risks and she made tough decisions and sacrifices, making it all worth it in the end.

While taking these sacrifices, she had to have the ability to be strong. People tried to put her down; she even put herself down at some point. We all have done it. Even when you fall, you just have to get back up. At her hometown gym in Virginia, she was the only African American member. She would come home crying not understanding what it was that she had done wrong to be treated in that way. In an interview on Oprah's next chapter: "I felt so isolated, 'Why am I deserving this?'... I felt like still in needed to move and really shine and not be discouraged and letting my talent go to waste." Douglas felt unwelcome and isolated. Those people would have kept her from living her dream now if she stayed there. So she left, she escaped the negativity of it all and realized what they were trying to do. She does have talent; she has a gold Olympic medal if anyone tells her otherwise. While making it big in London, people on social media were complaining about her hair. People called it messy, unkempt, and even hideous. "I just gelled it back, put some clips in it and put it in a bun. Are you kidding me? I'm just made history. And you're focusing on my hair." Gabby Doulas said on the Washington post. This subject has almost no importance or relevance to the talents that she shows by her performance. Yet the story had spread like wild fire. Because of her increasing popularity, people tried to pick out every tiny little thing to put her down. This could have taken a toll on Douglas's self-esteem. She didn't let it bother her. She stayed strong and didn't focus on the negatives. Gabby Douglas is not perfect, no one is truly perfect, and not everyone will like you or her. If you stick to your guns, as she did, and only listen to your opinion about yourself, you will be well on your way to success.

Gabrielle Douglas portrays two main qualities that make her a hero. She is very devoted and strong. She inspires people to keep moving forward, and to never give up on your dreams. By her beautiful performances and strong passion for her sport, she encourages you to not stop until you've have the dream you've always wanted. Gabby Douglas inspires people to have confidence in their abilities to accomplish your goals. If she can make it to the Olympics at 16, while you will need a lot of practice and perseverance, I'm sure you would be able to make the basketball team. Also being the first African American to win a gold medal in the all-around individual competition, she makes it as if anything is possible. Young girls look up to her, while she is still young herself. Gabby Douglas has more ahead of her on this road of success as she continues to warm the hearts of millions with her devotion and strength.

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