Gabby Douglas Receives a Positive Shout Out From Nastia Liukin Ahead of Gymnastics Winter Cup Comeback

Three-time Olympic gold medalist in the gymnastics realm, Gabby Douglas‘ comeback has sparked interest among her fans. The first Black woman to win the Olympic all-around title, she is poised to return after an eight-year hiatus. With her eyes set on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the first milestone will be the Winter Cup in Louisville.

As Douglas’s return is inching close, with the Winter Cup scheduled from Feb 23-35, none other than the former celebrated gymnast Nastia Liukin has come forward to cheer her on. The Nastia Liukin Cup is also proposed to run in conjunction with the Winter Cup this Feb 24 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Nastia Liukin reflects on Douglas’ journey as comeback nears

The former American gymnast, Nastia Liukin, known globally for winning five medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, took to her Instagram handle to reminisce about Gabby Douglas’ historical achievement ahead of the Winter Cup. As the 15 edition of Nastia Liukin Cup is also going to run in parallel, she took the opportunity to celebrate key moments in gymnastics history. She included the feats of Gabby Douglas as a part of the “core memory” with a major throwback picture of Douglas performing at the age of 14.

Liukin mentioned in the caption, “EXACTLY ONE WEEK AWAY FROM THE 15TH (!!!!!!!!!) NASTIA LIUKIN CUP, so I thought a little walk down memory lane felt appropriate. While oftentimes social media feels like a highlight reel, I do believe in celebrating wins, big or small. Sharing what you’re proud of, something that excites you, or an accomplishment is a little window into your soul. And that’s real, not a highlight reel.”

Adding how proud she is of these moments, the second slide in the series is dedicated to Gabby Douglas. Liukin mentions, “The one @gabbycvdouglas competed at when she was 14 years old… then went on to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games just 2 years later.” Gabby Douglas, the trailblazing gymnast, had won the Olympic all-around gold in 2012. Now she is once again standing one the verge of entering the records book.

Reigniting Olympic flame this Winter Cup

At 28, Gabby Douglas will be the oldest gymnast to compete at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky. She last competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. At present, she is focused on the uneven bars. If Douglas qualifies for the 2024 team, she is aligned on the path to becoming the first American woman since Dominique Dawes, who will be competing in three Olympic Games.

Read More: Can One Athlete Change the Game? The Impact of Gabby Douglas’s Return on Gymnastics

Douglas adds that the 2022 championships had sparked an interest in her to return to the sport, announcing her return in 2023. She also joined the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy under the coaching of Valeri Liukin.

Her phenomenal strengths in the uneven bars make her a strong contender, given the historical weakness of the U.S. team in it. With this, fans are equally enthralled to watch her excel at this Winter Cup.

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