Gabby Douglas, a gymnast from Virginia Beach, Virginia, was born on December 31, 1995. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she made history by becoming the first American and the first African American to win the all-around competition.
Douglas spent her formative years in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she began gymnastics training at the age of six. At the age of 14, she moved away from her family and into a host home in West Des Moines, Iowa, where she began training with renowned coach Liang Chow. Douglas quickly gained recognition in national events; she placed fourth in the all-around competition at the 2010 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, tied for third on the uneven bars at the 2011 Visa Championships, and ended seventh overall.
Did Gabby Douglas live in a van?
As the 16-year-old Douglas wrote in her most recent book, “Grace, Gold & Glory,” she was born into a family that spent nearly a year living in the back of a van. Gabby’s family lost their home in February 1996 and moved into a van in a parking lot.
What did Gabby Douglas do in her childhood?
In Virginia Beach, where Gabby Douglas grew up, she began gymnastics training at age six. At the age of 14, she moved out of her home and into a host family in West Des Moines, Iowa, where she began training with well-known coach Liang Chow.