After Parting Ways, Gabby Douglas Recalled Being Starstruck by Former Coach Liang Chow Before Leaving Him Again

It is always magical to meet your dream person and Gabby Douglas got chills living the moment. It is well known that behind the meteoric rise of Douglas in the gymnastics realm, Liang Chow made a significant contribution. However, the first time when the duo crossed paths was something that the American gymnast will remember forever. Being the all-around champion at the London Olympics, Douglas and Chow became a superhit duo. 

Reminiscing about the time when she first interacted with Chow, Douglas was starstruck. She could not believe that Chow, who coached Shawn Johnson, would go on to pair up with Douglas to help her achieve Olympic glory. 

Gabby Douglas was left stargazing after meeting Liang Chow

When Douglas got the news of Liang Chow visiting her gym, Excalibur, she could not believe her ears. In order to re-confirm, Douglas asked her coach, “Do you mean Liang Chow-Shawn Johnson’s coach?” In her book Grace, Gold, and Glory My Leap of Faith, Douglas detailed her state of mind and said that she was about to faint hearing the news.

The 28-year-old athlete could not stop bringing up the fact that Chow was her coach ever since she spotted him embracing Shawn Johnson in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

She added, “Since that moment during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when I’d seen Liang Chow and Shawn Johnson embrace after her beam final, I’d thought of him constantly. And every few weeks, I brought him up to my mother with the same refrain, “That’s my coach”.”

Although Douglas longed to meet Chow in person, she knew in her heart that it was not a viable possibility. This was because Chow was based out of Iowa, which was a good 1200 miles away from Douglas’ residence. However, fate had other plans and in 2010, the D-day for Gabby Douglas finally arrived. Coming into the gym on the special day, Douglas’ heartbeat skipped a beat after spotting her mentor in the gym. 

Finally, her long-awaited dream came true as Douglas introduced herself to Liang Chow before he walked away to greet the others. Fortunately for Douglas, that was not the only time the duo met. In fact, this was the crowning moment of a legendary partnership that lasted for years. Unfortunately, just like all good things, Douglas’ time with Liang Chow also came to an end. 

Gabby Douglas left Liang Chow after the Olympics 

Even though Chow was her dream coach, Gabby Douglas parted ways with him twice. Initially, the 2012 Olympic champion left Chow’s gymnastics and dance institute. This sparked rumors about whether the duo would reconcile or not. But Douglas did come back to unite with Chow via an invitation to the famous Karolyi Ranch in Texas for the US Women’s National Team training. 

Read More: Will Gabby Douglas Train With Simone Biles, After Calling Quits on Long-Time Coaches?

Sadly, the reconciliation lasted for just three months and Douglas left her childhood coach for the second time in 2014. Chow said, “She is searching for a new coach, I guess. We had an understanding, a tryout period. The new goal for the tryout period, try to prepare her to be in decent, good physical shape… As I talked to her, I respect her opinion on her decision.” While not much reaction was available from Douglas, Chow confirmed that she was no longer attending the West Des Moines gym. 

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