Gabrielle Douglas re-wrote the record books yesterday, by becoming the first African-American gymnast ever to win the Olympic gold as an individual. “Gabby,” as the world has quickly come to know her as, now has two gold medals to display on the mantel, as her team also took first place in the artistic competition earlier this week.
But given all of Gabby’s success, fame, and forthcoming fortune, can she also inspire more African-American girls to take up gymnastics?
Not only has the 16 year-old been one of the most exciting stories coming out of the Games this summer, but has already secured her legacy as a gymnast, while also witnessing her celebrity status soar to all-time heights, befitting of her nickname, the “Flying Squirrel.”
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It’s been almost 20 years since Mary Lou Retton, another pint-sized, teenage gymnast, who flipped her way into the hearts of this country after winning the gold medal in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Retton was named, “Sportswoman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated, while her All-American face appeared on Wheaties boxes, but that was 1984 — 11 years before Gabby was even born. Also blessed with a beautiful smile and all the charm that her diminutive 4-foot-11 frame can handle, Gabby is all set to somersault her way up and down Madison Ave. and Hollywood Blvd. with potential lucrative endorsement deals and movie offers once the Games are over.
But despite all of her commercial promise, Gabrielle’s accomplishments as an Olympian are unsurpassed.
Since the gymnastics has been an Olympic sport, only four other black women have competed in the Games. Douglas’ predecessors include: Wendy Hilliard (1978), Betty Okino (1992), Dominique Dawes (1992, 1996, 2000), and Tasha Schwikert (2000). Prior to Gabby’s brilliant performances this week, Dawes had been the most widely recognized and celebrated of any of them. Dominique became the first African-American woman to win an individual medal (Dawes was awarded the bronze in the floor event during the 1996 Atlanta Games) and the first black person of either gender ever to strike gold in team competition.
Given Gabby’s global success, her inspiration is much more broad than just African-American girls. After winning the first gold medal, Douglas attributed the victory to “a lot of hard work, a lot of passion, and a lot of sacrifices and determination,” advice that is valuable and priceless to all of us. Gabrielle, who began training as a gymnast at age six, won the Virginia State Championship for her level at 8 years old and moved to West Des Moines to live with a host family, while training under coach, Liang Chow.
We should not view Gabrielle as some overnight success, more than half of her young life has already been devoted to preparation, vision, and dreams.
Although we’d like for Gabby Douglas to motivate more African-American girls to participate in a sport that history indicates their under-representation, the appeal of Gabby’s story should be more universal for all genders and races.
Dwayne McClary writes about sports for theGrio. Follow him on Twitter at @dmcboxingjudge.