Grace, Gold and Glory. Three apt monikers that encapsulate Gabby Dougls perfectly. But every champion has their fair share of highs and lows and Douglas did have a tryst with failure recently. Gabby Douglas envisioned a dream comeback for herself, but alas, fate had other plans in store for her. Gleaning the chinks in her rusty armor post eight years, the fans were left disappointed when Douglas pulled out of the Core Hydration Classics. Well, for many, it might seem that the glory days of the 2012 all-around Olympic champion are over. However, Douglas is not someone who would give up easily. The story dates back to her childhood when she received hate comments and racial abuse, to the point that almost made Douglas quit. 

Well, she did not. Instead, went on to become one of the greatest female gymnasts of the modern era. Douglas’ childhood coach, Liang Chow, developed her character to fight for glory. However, there was another person whom Gabby Douglas drew inspiration from and it’s a former teammate who dons the hat of her hypegirl. anchor and more. 

Gabby Douglas finds a kindred spirit in former compatriot Shawn Johnson

Trying to make it big in the realm of gymnastics, Gabby Douglas shifted to Liang Chow’s gym in Des Moines, Iowa. It was at this facility that a star-struck Douglas rubbed shoulders with Shawn Johnson in 2010. Johnson, who was an Olympic champion, was training to make her comeback into the main mix of things. As the duo met each other, Johnson welcomed the young fangirl with a warm, “Hello Gabrielle.”  

As they shook each other’s hands, Douglas began trembling in the excitement of having touched a real Olympic icon. In her words, “Oh my gosh, Shawn just touched me! I’m training with an Olympic athlete. It was pretty thrilling.” This was the beginning of a closely-knit bond that only became stronger as days passed. Gabby Douglas, in her book ‘Grace, Gold & Glory, then detailed all the fun memories they shared while training together at Chow’s gym. 

Douglas also mentioned that Johnson was generous enough to share invaluable tips with the youngster, which surely made her blossom into the icon she is today. Fortunately, the bond is still intact till date and Shawn Johnson also supported Douglas amidst recent backlashes. 

Shawn Johnson advocates for Gabby Douglas

Gabby Douglas is facing significant backlash for opting out of the Core Hydration Classics. But while the fans are not happy with her performance, Johnson has provided Douglas with a shield of trust. Speaking about her much-talked-about comeback, Johnson stated, “She has come back into the sport, and she looks like an actual beast of an athlete. She looks stronger than she has ever looked, and watching her in warm-ups and seeing her get ready to compete, she looks amazing.” 

Johnson also praised Douglas’ mindset and recalled the days when they used to be training partners. Comparing Douglas with Superman’s ‘Man of Steel’ moniker, Johnson said, “I adore her. I adore everything she is. I think she is a phenomenal human. I think she is made of steel.” Regarding her recent farrago at the Hydration Classics, Douglas came in clutch and backed her by saying –“She has persevered and she has come back into the sport,”. As the “frickin’ boss.” trudges along forward, we have high hopes from her. Well, with support coming in from old allies, it is now time for Gabby Douglas to buckle up and prove herself to her haters.