Olympics 2012: New heights for Gabrielle Douglas

The Washington Times ^ | 31 July 2012 | Nathan Fenno

[COBOL2Java]

'Flying Squirrel' would rather miss home than Olympics

Gabrielle Douglas wanted to go home.

In January, four days after the gymnast dubbed the “Flying Squirrel” celebrated her 16th birthday, training for the Olympics in West Des Moines, Iowa, became too much. Douglas yearned to return to her family in Virginia Beach, and the midnight showings of “Twilight” movies with sisters Arielle and Joy, dinners at Smokey Bones and exploring the boardwalk with her dogs, Zoway and Chandler.

Two years earlier, Douglas wrote a list of pros and one con — she would miss her family — as she hounded her mother, Natalie Hawkins, to send her to live with strangers and hone her uncanny gymnastics ability.

That ability helped Douglas compile the third-best Olympic qualifying round score Sunday in London behind second-place teammate Aly Raisman, in advance of Tuesday’s team finals and Thursday’s all-around competition.

[COBOL2Java]

Though homesick, gymnast Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach credits years of training in Iowa for paving her way to the London Olympic Games

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Douglas, who turned 16 in January, has been training for the Olympics with coach Liang Chow in West De Moines, Iowa, since October 2010

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Alexandra Raisman (left) and Douglas will compete in the all-around finals Thursday in London. Teammate Jordyn Wieber was fourth but didn’t make the cut because of a limit of only two competitors from any one country

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U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach performs her floor routine during qualifying Sunday at the Summer Olympics. She will compete in the team finals Tuesday and all-around finals Thursday

[iowamark]

How long until the internet racists start denouncing her?

[Leep]

I could do that sfuff if I really wanted,too...:)

[Moltke]

Google ‘Joanna Quaas’ - she does it at age 86!

[LibsRJerks]

Love this darling little girl ...she has made this country SO proud — and I’m hoping she lifts many African Americans out of their racial doldrums to realize .....it really DOESN’T matter!!!

Gabby is as good as GOLD!!

[brwnsuga]

Another reason to realized we Black people need to stop making excuses. I’m tired of my folks talking about how they can’t do or can’t get because somebody is keeping them from this or that. NO MORE EXCUSES. You get out of life...what you put into it. Stop taking crumbs from the table and go out and make your life....I did....Gabby did it and countless other Black people have done it too.

[LibsRJerks]

Of course they have, brwnsuga! Believe me, i know plenty of black ppl who are extremely successful. The thing I observe in this little girl is that she works with everyone, and LISTENS to their advice to her, whether they are white, asian, black or brown ...just works with people — and that’s how anyone keeps it above the fray.

This racial BS is a lie and a waste of time. This kid wasn’t wasn’t taught those messages, obviously.

She WAS tempted to quit, so she would have had only herself to blame for not going on. Her mom wouldn’t let her quit —I found that really inspiring!

She also seems to have faith in God which is EVERYTHING.

She’s just a doll — i love her smile and her spirit just shines right through!!

This could open the floodgates for more AA’s to get into gymnastics . . . as they should.