16 year old Gabby Douglas has quickly become one of America’s sweethearts, especially after her dynamic performance at the 2012 London Olympics, where Gabby made history with her two gold medals. It definitely hasn’t been easy for the teenager, and not just because of comments about her hair. Douglas opens up to Oprah Winfrey on her interview for Sunday’s episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter, discussing how she felt isolated even while training.
As Douglas was training for the Olympics in Virginia, she even got a hard time from some of her fellow gymnasts. One of them even referred to Gabby as “their slave”, a comment that made Douglas feel very uneasy.
“I definitely felt isolated. I felt, why am I deserving this?” she said. “Is it because I’m black? Like, those thoughts would go through my mind.”
Things didn’t quite lighten up in Virginia, so Gabby moved her training to a facility in Iowa, and continued pursuing her Olympic dreams. Coaches at the Virginia gym feel a bit slighted as far as receiving credit for the gymnast’s training.
BMWK family, did you watch Gabby on OWN? What were your thoughts?
Candice says
I guess she can say to VA thanks for giving me the fuel to win, haters!!!
T. Henry says
Gotta love it when God takes the evil that was meant for you and uses it to bring good! If she hadn’t been treated that way, she may not have wanted to move and would not have gotten the training she got that propelled her to the gold.
It’s even better when those who KNOW they did you wrong get to SEE you succeed in spite of them trying to keep you down! She’s saying: “Look at me NOW”
November says
Gabby is a cute girl with loads of talent. Congrats to her. Racism, haters and ugly behavior continue in this day and age, not just from nonblack people. The folks dissing her hair were black women (and some men I guess). It’s not just about eradicating racism and hatred, it’s about empowering our children (and ourselves) with the skills and tools to face it and know they are destined for good and to keep moving on. Peace.