Posted on 08/27/2012 1:32:46 PM PDT by South40
The toughest challenges Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas faced weren't on the mat, the balance beam or the uneven bars, she revealed to Oprah Winfrey on "Oprah's Next Chapter" Sunday.
Mental stresses — some the result of bullying — played an enormous role.
((snip))
"Is it because I'm black? Like, those thoughts would go through my mind."
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
I am living in a country whose president is trying to kill it. Do I get a prize?
I guess 12-14 year olds can be tough.
Maybe James Frey can ghostwrite a book about it with her.
I didn’t know Ashley Schaeffer was a gymnastics coach.
My guess is that it was European whites, if whites were involved at all. Racism and Xenophobia runs deep in the European heart.
I don’t believe these comments would have been said by anybody in Noeth America.
Orca is just helping Gabby “represent”. Nothing new here.
Yyyyeah...the early 2000’s were a turbulent time of change and racial unrest. We’ve come far since then but we still have a long way to go </BiggestSARCEver>
I wonder if she was called a sell out by her classmates, you know her white classmates obviously....
Orca? lol!
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Get real, Pollyanna.
I wouldn’t read too much into the ‘slave’ comment. Gabby was the star in that gym though there were a lot of girls around her age who were very talented. I don’t think they were the most sensitive of people as far as figuring out what would emotionally upset another girl. As in, these girls were bullied day in and day out for YEARS by a coach. That is what I took from watching this particular person. There are other black girls who train there. And I bet if you interview every one of the high level girls there that they would come up with an example of a time when they felt bullied and left out. But the real bullying came from the top. I guarantee it.
Too bad she didn’t win a gold medal. (Sarc) Poor little girl.
No wonder she drowns her sorrows with Egg McMuffins.
Looks to me like Oaky and Gail want to adopt her.
She just gave up about $20 million in endorcements.
Oprah - "Oh Gabby, I know how you feel. I'd only made my first billion by 1995. Damn racist Americans."
Cue the music:Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
:)
A prime example of the bullying from the coach came when Gabby started gaining attention by the media earlier this year. Someone interviewed her previous coaches and the money issue was brought up. I am so glad that Gabby found positive coaches.
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