HAMPTON ROADS — Gabby Douglas, a three-time Olympic champion from Hampton Roads, has earned herself a spot in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Douglas, who was born in Newport News, was introduced to gymnastics at the age of 6 because of her older sister. She began competing and worked her way up the ranks to the elite level.
In 2012, Douglas burst onto the scene and entered the Olympic conversation after a second-place finish at the Visa Championships. She also earned a first-place finish on the uneven bars and a third-place finish on the floor exercise which earned her a berth to compete at the Olympic Trials.
During the 2012 Olympic Trials, Douglas beat out heavily favored Jordyn Wieber for the only guaranteed spot on the London Olympic team.
Once she made the trek to London, Douglas rewrote history books and became the first Black woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also contributed towards the team gold medal with her performance on the uneven bars. She was the first U.S. gymnast to capture gold in both the all-around and team competitions at a single Olympic Games — a feat she achieved in London — and is one of only two American women to win back-to-back Olympic team golds.
At just 16 years old, Douglas broke barriers and redefined what was possible in the sport. Her groundbreaking achievements helped pave the way for future generations of gymnasts, including Simone Biles, who would go on to continue her legacy of excellence and representation on the global stage.
She returned to the Olympics a second time and captured another team gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America’s premier athletes in the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games. Douglas will be inducted alongside other members of the Class of 2025 at a ceremony in July in Colorado Springs.
To learn more about the 2025 class, visit usopc.org.