Gabby Douglas, the luminary U.S. gymnast and victorious 2012 Olympic all-around champion, commemorated her 28th birthday two days back, an emblem of triumph at the apex of her sport during the London 2012 Games. Her crowning achievement continued with a third Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016, solidifying her status among the gymnastics elite.

Gabby Douglas is on the verge of hitting a major milestone as she gears up to rejoin a U.S. national team camp, making a comeback to elite gymnastics after quite a long break. Her last competitive event was way back in the 2016 Olympic Games, almost seven years ago. Despite this hiatus, she’s now gearing up for participation in Paris 2024. But there’s more to her story. Recently, she disclosed something that has captured a lot of attention.

Gabby Douglas’ quiet return

Gabby Douglas, the trailblazing first African American to secure an all-around Olympic gold in gymnastics, took a step back from the sport and public spotlight after her second Olympic stint seven years ago. Despite never formally announcing her retirement, she withdrew from the scene, remarking on the challenges of pushing through tough days in a video posted on her Instagram story in early December. As she said, “I never wanted to have a hatred for the sport I love. I don’t want to end it that way. I have never announced retirement, I always kept it in the back of my mind, like, we have to finish on a better note.”

People began talking about Douglas returning in late 2022. These rumors grew stronger when her coach, Valeri Liukin, confirmed that she had gone back to the gym early this year. Douglas didn’t officially say she was coming back until July through an Instagram post. In a special note with her picture on the balance beam, she wrote about how she thought deeply during this time. She wanted to find joy and love again for the sport that means so much to her. “It’s so easy to ignore and escape from facing darkness and fears.” She told. “For many years, I’ve had an ache in my heart, but I didn’t want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness or regret and through my tears and hurt, I’ve found peace.” 

Gabby’s forward trajectory

Gabby Douglas has kept a low profile about her return, sharing only a couple of brief training videos on Instagram and participating in a single interview for TIME magazine’s Person of the Week podcast. In her discussion with TIME, she expressed gratitude for her body and the chance to return to the sport she loves.

Read More: Returning to Gymnastics After 6 Years, 27 Year Old Gabby Douglas Shares Her Secret to Youthfulness

Regarding her future plans, Douglas hasn’t yet disclosed her schedule for the 2024 season. Despite speculation about her potential appearances at events such as the U.S. Classic last summer, her official return to gymnastics was evident at a U.S. national team camp in mid-November. The upcoming Winter Cup Challenge in February might serve as an important evaluation point for her progress, although it may not directly impact her spot in the 2024 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team.

Watch this story: After Having a “Spooky” Halloween, Gymnastics Queen Simone Biles Gears Up for Another On-Camera Appearance