Gymnastic trailblazer Gabby Douglas has been a dominant name in the sporting realm. But her path to success was carved by thorns, like many others who strived to achieve big goals in life. This became especially relevant when her 2024 Winter Cup entry after an 8-year hiatus faded because of Covid-19. She is back at her beloved training arena, WOGA, and waiting for an April training camp invite. However, looking back at her journey, her mother’s contribution to anchoring her boat has been one of the prizest things to her.

In 2012, Douglas surfaced with her new autobiography Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith release. In no time, the book secured a 4th place at the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List. The book has the Olympian’s story, from zero to a stalwart. But there was one incident that still haunts her.

Gabby Douglas spoke of an almost career-ending incident

Ahead of one of the most important events of her life, Douglas fell at the mouth of a horrific leg pop. The lines in her book go like “Ten weeks before my make-it-or-break-it Nationals, I heard a pop in my leg while I was doing a leap in a floor exercise. The upcoming competition was one of the most critical of my career: doing well at Nationals could mean earning the chance to compete at Worlds — and if you don’t make it to Worlds, you usually don’t make it onto the Olympic team”. She continued, “Missy rushed me to an orthopedic surgeon, who confirmed our biggest fear: I had sprained my hamstring and injured my hip flexor”. 

Though the year isn’t clear about this, it looks like the Olympics was already looming. And Douglas spoke in affirmation, “..the timing for this injury couldn’t have been worse. My entire dream was on the line”. Almost on the verge of losing her mind, who snapped her back to consciousness?

Douglas’s mom as her biggest support system

“I Skyped Mom immediately. “What am I going to do?” I said, fighting back tears. “You’re going to do what you’ve always done — trust God to carry you through it,” she answered. “You’ve got to keep fighting, Brie.”, Gabby Douglas’ lines read. That incident was sure to bring her to the edge, but thank god for mothers. Natalie Hawkins had been her daughter’s pillar of strength throughout.

Later in the months, when she had an event in St. Paul, Minnesota, her mom flew to watch her child perform. Ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024, the 28-year-old hopes to perform at her close ones’ presence, since it would be her first Olympic entry since 2016 Rio Olympics.

READ MORE: Gabby Douglas Feels ‘Extremely Honored’ by Young Fan’s Heartwarming Gesture