Gabby Douglas

Gabby Douglas Speaker Biography

Gabby Douglas began formal gymnastics training at the early age of 6 years old. By the age of 8, she had won her first major title as the 2004 Virginia State Champion. At the age of 16, she was selected to be a member of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics team to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. There she became the first African-American woman, as well as the first woman of color of any nationality to win an Olympic Gold medal as the All-Around Individual Champion. In addition, while winning a Team Gold medal, she became the first American gymnast to win Gold in both the All-Around individual and team competitions at the same Olympics. At the 2012 U.S. National Championships, Gabby won the Gold medal in Uneven Bars, Silver in All-Around, and Bronze in Floor. She was also a member of the Gold-winning team at the 2011 World Championships.

After the London Games, Gabby was one of the most influential female athletes in the world and was at the center of pop culture. She made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, was featured in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and was named to Barbara Walters list as one of the “10 Most Fascinating People of 2012.” Gabby Douglas has made cameos on Disney’s hit show Kickin’ It and the CW’s The Vampire Diaries. In support of President Barack Obama, she led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Gabby was also named the 2012 Associated Press “Female Athlete of the Year.” In addition, Gabby has released two New York Times best-selling books titled Raising the Bar and Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith. In 2013, Gabby’s life story was portrayed in the Lifetime Network’s movie of the week called The Gabby Douglas Story.

In 2014, Gabby moved to Westerville, Ohio to begin training at Buckeye Gymnastics. In 2015, Gabby burst back onto the elite gymnastics scene after a two-year hiatus. At the World Championships she won Silver in the All-Around competition and won Gold with Team USA. She is the first reigning Olympic All-Around champion since 1981 to return to the sport and win a World Championships medal. Gabby also secured Gold at the 2016 AT&T American Cup and City of Jeselo Trophy.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Gabby won her third Olympic Gold medal in the Team competition, as the only All-Around Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast in US history to return to a second Olympics.

To book Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas, contact Executive Speakers Bureau at (901) 754-9404.