History of Gabby Douglas in Timeline
Gabrielle Douglas is an accomplished American artistic gymnast, celebrated as the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and the 2015 World all-around silver medalist. She played a key role in the U.S. women's gymnastics teams' gold-medal victories at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, earning her place in the 'Fierce Five' and 'Final Five'. Furthermore, Douglas contributed to the American teams' gold-medal wins at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships. Her individual achievements include being the 2012 U.S. champion on uneven bars and the 2016 American Cup all-around champion, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in gymnastics.
1952: Women's Gymnastics at the Olympics
In 1952, women's gymnastics was added to the Olympics.
1984: Mary Lou Retton's Olympic All-Around Gold
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton won the Olympic all-around gold in Los Angeles.
December 31, 1995: Gabrielle Douglas' Birth
On December 31, 1995, Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas was born, who is an American artistic gymnast.
1996: Magnificent Seven's Victory
In 1996, the "Magnificent Seven" won at the Atlanta Games.
2001: Reigning Olympic Champion Returns
In 2015, Gabby Douglas became the first reigning Olympic all-around champion since 2001 to return to the sport and win a world championships medal.
October 2002: Started Gymnastics Training at Gymstrada
In October 2002, Gabby Douglas began her gymnastics training at Gymstrada.
2004: Carly Patterson's Olympic All-Around Gold
In 2004, Carly Patterson won the Olympic all-around gold in Athens.
2004: Virginia State Championships Win
In 2004, at the age of eight, Gabby Douglas won the Level 4 all-around gymnastics title at the Virginia State Championships.
2007: Shawn Johnson's World Champion Title
In 2007, Liang Chow became known as the coach of 2007 World Champion Shawn Johnson.
2008: International Debut and Visa Championships
In 2008, Gabby Douglas made her international debut at the US Classic in Houston, placing 10th. She also competed at the 2008 Visa Championships but did not qualify for the National Team.
2008: Shawn Johnson's Olympic Gold
In 2008, Liang Chow was the coach of 2008 Summer Olympics gold medalist Shawn Johnson.
2008: Nastia Liukin's Olympic All-Around Gold
In 2008, Nastia Liukin won the Olympic all-around gold in Beijing.
2009: Wrist Fracture and Limited Competition
In 2009, Gabby Douglas suffered a fracture in her wrist and was unable to compete fully at the Visa Championships, performing only on balance beam and floor exercise.
2010: U.S. Junior National Championships
At the 2010 U.S. Junior National Championships, Gabby Douglas won the silver medal on balance beam, placed fourth all-around and on vault, and tied for eighth on floor exercise.
2010: Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup
In 2010, Gabby Douglas competed at the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, placing fourth all-around.
2010: Pan American Championships
In 2010, at the Pan American Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, Gabby Douglas won the uneven bars title and a share of the U.S. team gold medal. She also placed fifth all-around.
2011: U.S. National Championships
At the 2011 U.S. National Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gabby Douglas tied for third on bars and placed seventh all-around.
2011: 2011 World Championships Gold
In 2011, Gabby Douglas was a member of the gold-winning American team at the World Championships.
July 2012: Sports Illustrated Cover
In July 2012, Gabby Douglas and her teammates were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Olympic Preview issue, marking the first time an entire Olympic gymnastics team had been featured on the cover.
September 2012: Ad Campaign and Pledge of Allegiance
In September 2012, Gabby Douglas was part of a Nintendo ad campaign for New Super Mario Bros. 2 and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
December 2012: Autobiography Release and MTV Appearance
In December 2012, Gabby Douglas released her autobiography, "Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith," which became a bestseller. She also performed at the MTV Video Music Awards during a performance by Alicia Keys and Nicki Minaj.
December 2012: Named Female Athlete of the Year
In December 2012, the Associated Press named Gabby Douglas the Female Athlete of the Year, making her the fourth gymnast to receive this honor.
2012: Olympic Trials Victory
At the 2012 Olympic Trials held in San Jose, California on July 1, Gabby Douglas placed first in the all-around rankings, securing her spot on the women's Olympic gymnastic team.
2012: 2012 Summer Olympics Gold Medals
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Gabby Douglas and her teammates won the team event gold medal. Douglas also won the gold medal in the individual all-around, becoming the first African-American woman to win the event. She became the first American gymnast to win both the team and individual all-around gold at the same Olympics.
2012: Named to Senior National Team
Gabby Douglas was named to the Senior National Team for the first time since 2012 in September 2015.
2012: Walker's Conviction
In 2012, Douglas' former coach, Walker, stated she was convinced Douglas could have made it to the Olympics if she had remained in Virginia Beach.
2012: 2012 Olympic All-Around Champion
In 2012, Gabby Douglas became the Olympic all-around champion, marking a significant milestone in her career.
2012: First African American Olympic All-Around Champion
In 2012, Gabby Douglas became the first African American to win an Olympic individual all-around title. She also became the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.
2012: Pacific Rim Championships and U.S. National Championships
In 2012, Gabby Douglas was part of the gold-winning U.S. team at the Pacific Rim Championships, where she also won gold in uneven bars. At the 2012 U.S. National Championships in June, she won gold in uneven bars, silver in the all-around, and bronze in floor.
2012: Gymnastic Equipment at Museum
In 2012, gymnastic equipment used by Gabby Douglas at the 2012 Summer Olympics was put on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
June 2013: BET Awards Received
In June 2013, Gabby Douglas received two BET Awards for her accomplishments in gymnastics.
August 12, 2013: Acting Role on "Kickin' It"
On August 12, 2013, Gabby Douglas had a small acting role on the Disney XD series "Kickin' It" in the episode "Gabby's Gold".
August 2013: Move to Los Angeles
In August 2013, Gabby Douglas left Missy Parton's home and moved to Los Angeles to be with her family, still planning to compete in the 2016 Olympics.
2013: Departure to Los Angeles
In April 2014, Chow and his wife were delighted to have Douglas return to the Iowa gym, which they had not expected she would after her departure to Los Angeles in summer 2013.
February 1, 2014: "The Gabby Douglas Story" Aired
On February 1, 2014, "The Gabby Douglas Story," a Lifetime movie starring Imani Hakim, aired, with Gabby Douglas performing all the gymnastic stunts herself.
April 2014: Return to Chow's Gymnastics
In April 2014, Gabby Douglas returned to Iowa to train with Coach Chow in an attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
November 25, 2014: Return to U.S. National Team
On November 25, 2014, Gabby Douglas was added back to the U.S. national team, along with Olympic teammate Aly Raisman and former Chow's Gymnastics teammate Rachel Gowey.
2014: Life Story Adaptation and Reality Series
In 2014, Gabby Douglas' gymnastics successes led to her life story being adapted into a Lifetime biopic film, "The Gabby Douglas Story", and the acquisition of her own reality television series, "Douglas Family Gold".
2014: Left Chow's Gymnastics & Dance Institute
In mid-July 2014, it was announced that Gabby Douglas had once again left Chow's Gymnastics & Dance Institute and started training with Kittia Carpenter at Buckeye Gymnastics in Genoa Township, Ohio.
March 2015: Return to International Competition
In March 2015, Gabby Douglas returned to international competition at the 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy. Douglas helped the USA win gold in the team competition and also placed 4th all-around.
October 8, 2015: Selection to World Championship Team
On October 8, 2015, it was announced that Gabby Douglas had been selected as a member of the 2015 US Women's World Championship team.
November 13, 2015: Participation in 2016 AT&T American Cup Revealed
On November 13, 2015, The Columbus Dispatch revealed that Gabby Douglas would participate in the 2016 AT&T American Cup, in Newark, New Jersey.
December 17, 2015: Participation Confirmed
On December 17, 2015, it was confirmed that Gabby Douglas would participate in the 2016 AT&T American Cup.
2015: 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
At the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, Gabby Douglas shared in the team gold medal won by the U.S. She also qualified for the individual all-around in 3rd place, and to the uneven bars final in 6th place. Douglas won the silver in the all-around.
2015: Worlds 2015 Target
In 2014, Carpenter announced that Douglas would train with a goal of returning in time for Worlds 2015.
2015: 2015 World All-Around Silver Medalist
In 2015, Gabby Douglas secured the silver medal at the World all-around competition, adding to her list of achievements.
2015: Reality Show Announced
In 2015, it was announced that a reality television show for the Oxygen channel, "Douglas Family Gold", had been commissioned to follow Gabby Douglas and her family's life.
March 2016: 2016 City of Jesolo Trophy
In March 2016, Gabby Douglas won the all-around title at the 2016 City of Jesolo Trophy.
May 25, 2016: "Douglas Family Gold" Premiered
On May 25, 2016, the reality television show "Douglas Family Gold" premiered on the Oxygen channel.
August 23, 2016: Miss America Judge
On August 23, 2016, it was announced that Gabby Douglas would be one of the judges at the 2017 Miss America pageant.
2016: Reference in Cupcakke Song
In 2016, American female rapper Cupcakke referenced Gabby Douglas in the lyrics of her song "Spider-Man Dick."
2016: Secret U.S. Classic
In 2016, Gabby Douglas competed at the Secret US Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 4. She competed on UB and BB.
2016: Nomination for ESPY Award
In 2016, Gabby Douglas was nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Team, along with the other members of the 2016 Olympic women's gymnastics team.
2016: 2016 Summer Olympics Gold
In 2016, Gabby Douglas was part of the gold-winning team at the Summer Olympics.
2016: Training for 2016 Olympics
In April 2014, Gabby Douglas returned to Iowa to train with Coach Chow in an attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
2016: Participation in 2016 AT&T American Cup
In November 13, 2015, it was revealed that Gabby Douglas would participate in the 2016 AT&T American Cup.
2017: Judging Miss America Pageant
In 2017, Gabby Douglas served as one of the judges at the Miss America pageant.
2017: ESPY Award Nomination
In 2017, Gabby Douglas, along with her 2016 Olympic women's gymnastics teammates, was nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Team.
2017: Controversy and Apology
In 2017, after Aly Raisman spoke about sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, Gabby Douglas faced criticism for a tweet perceived as victim-shaming. She later apologized and revealed she was also abused by Nassar.
May 11, 2018: Undercover Boss Appearance
On May 11, 2018, Gabby Douglas appeared disguised as a gray-haired, aspiring gym owner in a "Celebrity Edition" episode of Undercover Boss.
2020: Future Olympic Team Size Reduction
In 2016, when the team final scores were announced, Douglas and her teammates called themselves the "Final Five" in honor of the team size being reduced to four beginning in 2020.
2020: Winner of The Masked Dancer
In 2020, Gabby Douglas competed on The Masked Dancer as "Cotton Candy" and was declared the winner of the season.
October 2022: Return to Training at WOGA
In October 2022, gymnastics media outlets reported that Gabby Douglas had recently returned to training at WOGA, signaling a potential comeback.
November 2022: Douglas Spotted at WOGA
In November 2022, a photograph surfaced online showing Gabby Douglas training at WOGA with other athletes, further fueling speculation about her return to gymnastics.
February 2023: WOGA Coach Confirms Douglas's Training
In February 2023, Valeri Liukin, WOGA coach, confirmed to NBC that Gabby Douglas has been training at his gym, solidifying rumors of her comeback.
July 2023: Douglas Confirms Comeback
In July 2023, Gabby Douglas confirmed via Instagram that she had resumed training with the goal of competing at the 2024 Olympics.
May 2024: Injury and Olympic Trials Withdrawal
In May 2024, Gabby Douglas withdrew from competing for a spot on the Olympic team in Paris due to an injury sustained during training.
2024: Competition at American Classic
In 2024, Gabby Douglas competed in the American Classic, her first competition since the Rio Olympics. She placed second on vault but did not qualify for the national championships due to her all-around score.
2024: Withdrawal from Winter Cup
In 2024, Gabby Douglas was slated to compete at the Winter Cup but withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19 just before the competition. She briefly stopped training at WOGA but returned after two weeks.
2028: Aims for 2028 Olympics
In 2028, Gabby Douglas aims to compete for a spot on the Olympic team in Los Angeles.
