Gymnastics legend Gabby Douglas has withdrawn from the U.S. gymnastics championships, ceasing her pursuit of a fourth Olympic gold medal.
The Olympic all-around champion officially pulled out of the upcoming U.S. Championships due to an ankle injury, halting her endeavor to secure a place on the Paris Olympic team. A representative for Douglas confirmed the development to ESPN.
Douglas, who incurred the injury during a training session, reiterated her passion for gymnastics and her unwavering determination despite the setback.
“I love this sport and I love pushing my limits,” Douglas conveyed to ESPN. “I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number and you can accomplish anything you work hard for.”
Despite her absence from this weekend’s competition in Fort Worth, Texas, Douglas is not disengaging from the sport and intends to persist with training for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, ESPN added.
“I spoke to her today,” said Chellsie Memmel, the USA Gymnastics’ women’s program technical lead, USA Today reported.
“We had a really good talk. I was like, ‘I know how you’re feeling.’ When you come back as an older athlete, things feel a lot different in competition,” she added. “I’m bummed for her, but her body is her top priority and that’s smart.”
Douglas most recently competed at the Core Hydration Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, earlier in May, where she encountered challenges on the uneven bars and withdrew after the initial rotation.
Her resurgence commenced at the American Classic in Katy, Texas, in April, where she attained 10th place in the all-around and qualified to compete in three events at the U.S. Championships.
The Olympic great made her competitive comeback at the American Classic in Katy, Texas, in April, marking her first appearance since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite securing 10th place in the all-around at the event, she successfully qualified to participate in three events at the U.S. Championships.
Her ambition to return to the Olympics was first revealed in February. Originally slated to resume competitive gymnastics at the Winter Cup in February, Douglas withdrew from the event shortly before its commencement after testing positive for Covid-19.
“I have to give myself a little bit of grace,” Douglas said in Hartford, according to NBC News.
“It ended rough for me in 2016, so I didn’t want to end on that note. I want to make sure I end on love and joy instead of hating something that I love,” she added.
The 28-year-old gymnast initially captivated audiences with her performance at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first black gymnast to secure the Olympic all-around gold medal.
She further solidified her legacy at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, contributing to the U.S. team’s consecutive victory in the team event, clinching the gold medal once again.
Had she been selected for the U.S. Olympic team in Paris, Douglas would have achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to qualify for three Olympic teams, NBC News added.
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Author: Dillon B
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