Former Teammate Shawn Johnson on Gabby Douglas’ Worst Childhood Nightmares to Gymnastics Glories: “She’s Made of Steel”

“You will be different, sometimes you’ll feel like an outcast, but you’ll never be alone.” This lesson Superman learned from his father, Jor-El, also resonates deeply with gymnastics star Gabby Douglas‘ journey. In 2024, Douglas made a return to the spotlight in the gymnastics world after an eight-year hiatus.

Her journey through her third Olympic cycle has had its fair share of bumps, but these challenges are merely drops in the ocean compared to the hurdles she has overcome in the past to become a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Her former training partner and four-time Olympic medalist, Shawn Johnson, is full of praise for Gabby. Just days after Douglas’s withdrawal from the Core Hydration Classic, Johnson likened her to the “man of steel.”

Shawn Johnson likens Gabby Douglas to Superman

In a post on X shared by an account called “Shawn’s Amanar (q),” a snippet was shared where Shawn Johnson opened up about the return of ‘Superwoman’ Gabby Douglas on her podcast “Couple Things” with her husband Andrew. Johnson expressed her awe at Gabby’s decision to return to the sport after eight years. She spoke of Gabby’s exceptional talent and how they trained together for four years. Johnson shared, “I adore her. I adore everything she is. I think she is a phenomenal human. I think she is made of steel.”

Johnson continued, reflecting on Gabby’s journey to becoming the first African American all-around Olympic champion. She noted the many hardships Gabby has faced and that she has been dealt a bad set of cards. But despite her past, Gabby Douglas continues to prove that she can handle anything. Days after pulling out of the Core Hydration Classic and facing online trolls, Johnson emphasized her deep respect for Gabby.

She admitted that if she were in Gabby’s position, she would find it incredibly difficult to return to the sport in today’s climate of negativity. As we reflect on these words, let us peek behind the curtain of Gabby Douglas’s childhood and uncover how she faced hardships, overcame them, and inspired legends.

How Gabby went from feeling isolated to becoming an inspiration

At just 16 years old, Gabby Douglas was on the verge of quitting gymnastics due to bullying and racism. On “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” Gabby revealed, “I was just, you know, kind of getting racist jokes, kind of being isolated from the group.” One of her teammates even made her scrape the bars while tormenting her with racist comments. She admitted to coming home and sobbing because of the torment. Her mother, Natalie Hawkins, who accompanied her on the show, told Oprah how she was determined to support her daughter. Hawkins allowed Gabby to move to Iowa to train with a new coach.

From there, Gabby Douglas made Olympic history, becoming the first African American to win an All-Around Olympic gold medal. She even inspired the most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, who shared that while growing up, she did not see many gymnasts of color at her gym but “I remember watching Gabby Douglas win the 2012 Olympics, and I was like, ‘If she can do it, I can do it.’” Reflecting on this journey from isolation to inspiration, the comparison Shawn Johnson made between Gabby and Superman is quite relevant. What are your thoughts on this reflection? Share in the comments below!