Home » Sports » Gymnastics
'Flying squirrel' Douglas ready to take off
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN Gabby Douglas arrived at the London Olympics all she wanted to do was to meet Usain Bolt. But after the 16-year-old American added the Olympic all-round title to her gymnastics team gold on Thursday, it might be the world's fastest man seeking a meeting with her.
Dressed in a shimmering pink leotard, Douglas dazzled a packed North Greenwich Arena with her cheeky personality and a jaw-dropping exhibition of high-flying acrobatics that heralded the arrival of the London Games newest sensation.
By the time Douglas was wrapping up her evening with a floor routine, the gymnast nicknamed the "Flying Squirrel" had the massive crowd on its feet and eating out of her hand, finishing with a playful wave before diving into the arms of her coach Liang Chow.
"It just feels amazing to be called the Olympic champion, so much hard work, effort and passion and determination in the gym," Douglas told reporters after claiming gymnastics biggest prize. "You have to push it every day. It definitely feels amazing. The all-around matters to me. People keep saying I'm the first black American to win the gold medal and I'm so honored."
Armed with cute nickname, a megawatt smile, a compelling back-story and two gold medals with maybe more to come in apparatus finals, it is certain fame and fortune await the teenager when she returns home to the United States.
The subject of a pre-Games article in Time magazine, Douglas shared the cover of Sports Illustrated's Olympic edition with her "Fierce Five" teammates but the first African-American to wear the all-round crown looks ready to emerge from the Games as a marketing dynamo. "I didn't realize that," said Douglas. "I just wanted to seize the moment, you have to learn to seize the moment so it kind of hasn't sunk in yet."
When Chow met Douglas - then 14-years-old - he did not think she would survive in Iowa. Dealing with bouts of homesickness and inconsistent performances it seemed as if Douglas might never earn her place among the gymnastic elite.
But in the space of exactly five months, Douglas has upset the gymnastics order at home and abroad. Allowed to compete unofficially at the American Cup in March, she outscored all the established women. In the US trials last month, she pipped world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber to top spot for London.
Dressed in a shimmering pink leotard, Douglas dazzled a packed North Greenwich Arena with her cheeky personality and a jaw-dropping exhibition of high-flying acrobatics that heralded the arrival of the London Games newest sensation.
By the time Douglas was wrapping up her evening with a floor routine, the gymnast nicknamed the "Flying Squirrel" had the massive crowd on its feet and eating out of her hand, finishing with a playful wave before diving into the arms of her coach Liang Chow.
"It just feels amazing to be called the Olympic champion, so much hard work, effort and passion and determination in the gym," Douglas told reporters after claiming gymnastics biggest prize. "You have to push it every day. It definitely feels amazing. The all-around matters to me. People keep saying I'm the first black American to win the gold medal and I'm so honored."
Armed with cute nickname, a megawatt smile, a compelling back-story and two gold medals with maybe more to come in apparatus finals, it is certain fame and fortune await the teenager when she returns home to the United States.
The subject of a pre-Games article in Time magazine, Douglas shared the cover of Sports Illustrated's Olympic edition with her "Fierce Five" teammates but the first African-American to wear the all-round crown looks ready to emerge from the Games as a marketing dynamo. "I didn't realize that," said Douglas. "I just wanted to seize the moment, you have to learn to seize the moment so it kind of hasn't sunk in yet."
When Chow met Douglas - then 14-years-old - he did not think she would survive in Iowa. Dealing with bouts of homesickness and inconsistent performances it seemed as if Douglas might never earn her place among the gymnastic elite.
But in the space of exactly five months, Douglas has upset the gymnastics order at home and abroad. Allowed to compete unofficially at the American Cup in March, she outscored all the established women. In the US trials last month, she pipped world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber to top spot for London.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
