In the artistic world of gymnastics, one fan favorite stands out in the doyen of 21st-century Olympics: Gabby Douglas. The Virginia-born gymnast, best known for being the first black woman to win all-around gold in the 2012 Olympics followed by a team gold in 2016, left her admirers aching for her comeback when she abruptly quit the international scene.

Douglas, who is now 28 years old, recently declared her return and is preparing to compete with her eyes transfixed on the prize in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, why did three-time Olympic gold medalist initially withdraw from public view? Taking center stage again, Douglas recently discussed her professional hiatus from the mats.

Gabby Douglas goes candid about the Rio Olympics wind-down

Gabby Douglas recently shared her thoughts on her impressionable early twenties at the 2016 Olympics in an interview with Inside Gym. She said, “Honestly, deep down I never wanted to fully give it up and walk away.” At a day and age where most people harbor neon-sing aspirations, Douglas was instead chastised during her 2016 reign of glory, impugning the way she smiled or her status on the team, etc. She was resolute in not appearing for any talks or any press conferences, interviews etc. and people took it as a sign of her premature exit.

However, in her last November interview with the ‘Time Person of the Week’ series, she stated, “I don’t want to end it that way. I’ve never announced retirement. I always kept in the back of my mind, like, we have to finish on a better note.” Douglas is now scheduled to make her return debut at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 24, marking her first competitive gymnastics competition in over eight years.

However, when a picture appeared of Gabby exercising at a new gym in October 2022, the gymnastics world conjectured about her potential return. In addition, coach Valeri Liukin confirmed in late February of last year, while Douglas herself reaffirmed her Olympic aspirations on Instagram in July. So, what prompted Douglas to return?

Veteran Olympian’s renewed Olympics dream

Douglas changed since her switch to the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. Moreover, she told NBC News Now: “I was watching the 2022 [U.S.] championships, and I was like, ‘Man, I miss competing.’ …I’m still a competitor at heart…. I can get this out of me, and so I decided to start back training.”

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With just 145 days to go until the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the pressure is on Douglas to earn a position among fellow Olympic veterans like Simone Biles and Suni Lee as the Paris Olympics get closer. There will be five slots available in women’s gymnastics for which everyone will compete. It will be an exciting trip as Gabby Douglas sets out to make a victorious return in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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