Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic all-around gymnastics champion, will return to competitors for the primary time in practically eight years on the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 24.
The 28-year-old Douglas, who made the announcement on NBC Information NOW on Tuesday, was a teen when she competed in London and have become the primary Black girl to win the Olympic title. She hasn’t competed since serving to the U.S. win staff gold on the 2016 Olympics.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist went on an prolonged sabbatical after the Rio de Janeiro Video games however returned to coaching in 2022 and introduced final summer season she would attempt to make the 2024 Olympic staff.
“I by no means introduced a retirement,” Douglas instructed NBC. “I did not need to finish this sport like I did in 2016. I needed to take a step again and work on myself and my psychological state.”
Douglas joins a crowded and adorned area hoping to make the five-woman Olympic squad, together with Olympic champions Simone Biles (2016) and Sunisa Lee (2020). Biles returned to competitors final summer season after a two-year break and gained her file sixth world all-around title final fall.
Douglas mentioned she is “positively” aiming for Paris however added she is taking issues in the future at a time.
The Winter Cup is the primary vital U.S. meet of the 12 months, with the Video games looming in late July. Douglas has shared a part of her journey on her social media channels, together with an prolonged glimpse of her work on the uneven bars, traditionally her strongest occasion.
“I truthfully love going to the health club and getting my expertise again,” Douglas mentioned. “It is rather thrilling.”