*Gabby Douglas, the esteemed gymnast who made history at the 2012 Olympic Games, has recently expressed her frustration with the constant bullying she endures from gymnastics fans. Many of these fans persist in comparing her achievements to those of Simone Biles, the current face of gymnastics.
The discussion gained traction when a TikToker posted a video lamenting how fans “dropped” Douglas “like a bad habit” once Biles emerged onto the scene. The TikToker highlighted the shift in public attention.
“Gabby Douglas used to be the greatest Olympic gymnast, and then here comes Simone Biles. Nobody cares about Gabby Douglas anymore. When [was] the last time you thought about Gabby Douglas? I think about her all the time.”
Despite the sentiment expressed in the video, Douglas, now 28, seemed unfazed by being less prominent in public discourse. She responded in the comments section, addressing the comparisons on Tuesday:
“That’s ok! constantly being bullied is very tiring and wearing on me. i just want to live my life and be at peace 🖤 thanks for the love! definitely needed in this world x.”
Douglas holds a significant place in gymnastics history. During the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she became the first black gymnast to win an Olympic individual all-around title. Additionally, she was the first American gymnast to win both all-around and team gold medals in the same Olympics, as reported by the Olympics website, reports the NY Post.
Notably absent from the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris, Douglas revealed in June that she would be ending her journey to the Olympics due to a foot injury. She shared her thoughts with her followers on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of herself mid-air along with a heartfelt message:
“This may be the end of this chapter but not the end of my gymnastics story. thank you all for being with me on this journey and lifting me up on my lowest days i love you all so much!”
Meanwhile, Simone Biles has continued to cement her legendary status in the gymnastics world. Dominating the 2024 Olympics, Biles won three gold medals and one silver, becoming the most decorated American Olympic gymnast in history with a total of 11 medals, including seven golds. At 27, she also made history as the oldest American gymnast to win a gold medal.
Biles has openly expressed how Douglas’s achievements inspired her own journey.
“Growing up, I didn’t see very many black gymnasts … So whenever I did, I felt really inspired to go out there and want to be as good as them. I remember watching Gabby Douglas win the 2012 Olympics, and I was like, If she can do it, I can do it,” Biles said in a 2020 interview with Vogue.
While the gymnastics world often pits these two phenomenal athletes against each other, both Douglas and Biles seem to share a mutual respect and understanding of their respective journeys and contributions to the sport. As Douglas aims to find peace away from the comparisons and bullying, her legacy as a trailblazer in gymnastics remains undiminished.
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