The 2012 Olympic Games finished its first week with many memorable moments to savor. But there was one very special Olympic moment that left some African-Americans in tears — the night Gabby Douglas made history!
You see, Gabby Douglas is the first African-American gymnast ever to win her sport’s most revered title: the individual all-around gold medal. Although she is the 4th American to win the title, she is only the first African-American to do so.
Douglas’ rise from virtual obscurity to the top of her sport followed the path many, including Dominique Dawes, blazed before her. Growing up in Virginia Beach, a then 14-year-old Gabby persuaded her mother that she had to move to Des Moines, Iowa, so that she could train with famed gymnastics coach Liang Chow. Of course, her mother’s initial response was a resounding NO! But Gabby’s 2 older sisters began lobbying on her behalf, and while her mother said she feared she “must have lost (her) marbles,” she finally relented.
It was a decision that paid off in gold!
The 16-year-old bounded from one rotation to another last Thursday, on what would become one of the most historic days in women’s gymnastics. Winning perhaps the most lucrative gold medal of the summer games, Gabby’s sheer love of competition, combined with a superb level of self-confidence, carried her to the women’s individual all-around title — and into the history books.
Almost immediately, Oprah, Beyonce’ and others sent the 16-year-old champion a congratulatory text. The first African-American woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal, Dominique Dawes, who came close but did not succeed in her own 1996 Olympic bid to win the same prize, was moved to tears. And the ever humble Gabby Douglas simply flashed her million watt smile.
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<span><span>This young lady is truly an inspiration for other young females…especially young females of *Color* who dream of one day becoming WHATEVER they want to be, including an Olympic Champion. </span> <span></span> <span>And as I shared in the Friday Forum (last Friday), the interview of Dominique Dawes following Gabby's win was so moving! </span> <span></span> <span>FYI: Gabby will have 2 more chances to add to the 2 GOLD medals she's achieved thus far. She's scheduled to compete on uneven bars TODAY and on the balance beam TOMORROW. </span> <span></span> <span>But even IF she falls a little short in these final 2 events, she's already earned her place in American History. </span> <span></span> <span>WELL DONE GABBY! WELL DONE!</span></span>