Gabby Douglas might be an Olympic champion, but she does have her tales of woes too. Douglas, who was born in Virginia, had a troubled upbringing. Her dad, Timothy Douglas, who served in the Air Force, did not have a very good relationship with his wife and daughter. Deprived of fatherly love, Gabby Douglas became more and more distant from her dad as she witnessed her mother take up all the struggles. 

Well, Gabby Douglas is now an established name in the world of sports. Having won the all-around gold at the 2012 Olympics, Douglas is an icon. Revising old archives, Gabby Douglas once opened up about her dad and how it impacted the family. Needless to say, the recollection was not very pleasant. 

Gabby Douglas narrates heartbreaking tales of negligence 

Speaking to the New York Post back in 2012, Gabby Douglas revealed her point of view regarding the negligence she faced from her father. She said, “It was really hard for us growing up — my dad had left us, so he wasn’t really in the picture anymore.” Douglas explained how the family was on the verge of being ruined by the irresponsible acts of her father. And, when Gabby’s father looked away from the family, it was their mother who rose to the occasion. 

Left to pay the bills and take care of all the children, Natalie Hawkins became a superwoman. Amidst all the struggles, she kept going and ensured that the best was being done for the welfare of her kids. Gabby recalled the days by saying, “So my mom had to front all these bills. My dad didn’t really pay the child support. He was short [on money]. It was definitely hard on her part, and she had to take care of me and the rest of my siblings.” 

Ever since then, Natalie and Gabby stitched up a powerful bond. So much so that an immensely affectionate Natalie did not initially comply with the idea of Gabby relocating to Iowa for her gymnastics lesson. Fortunately, Gabby’s mother, with a little pestering from her siblings, agreed to let her join Liang Chow. And the rest is history. The sweetest moment came when Natalie witnessed from the stands Gabby’s antics on the mat at the Olympics. Meanwhile, Gabby Douglas’ father might have abandoned her, but he is indeed very proud of her daughter. 

Timothy Douglas feels proud of his daughter 

Gabby Douglas’ father was arrested after being charged with neglect of his children. However, even after abandoning his little kids in childhood, Sergeant Timothy Douglas keeps a tab on their progress. Touring the rugged terrains of Iraq and Afghanistan, Timothy was both proud and shocked at the same time in 2012. He witnessed the magic her daughter wove in London, but he was not in the crowd. Watching from afar, Timothy was a proud dad. 

He had also regularly checked YouTube to catch a glimpse of his daughter’s shenanigans inside the gymnasium. However, it was a special moment for him as Douglas’ father came up in person to watch Gabby Douglas qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Now as Gabby is aiming to script a dream comeback after eight years, her estranged dad would still probably be on the lookout for her videos, smiling and even dropping a tear or two silently.