PARIS — Three-times Olympic gold medallist Gabby Douglas has returned to training with an eye on next year’s Games in Paris, the 27-year-old American said.
Douglas, who has not competed since the 2016 Rio Games when she led the United States to a second consecutive Olympic team gold, said last year she was taking time off to focus on her mental health.
“For many years, I’ve had an ache in my heart but I didn’t want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness or regret and through my tears and hurt, I’ve found peace,” Douglas wrote on her Instagram account.
“I know I have a huge task ahead of me and I am beyond grateful and excited to get back out on the floor… let’s do this #2024.”
The announcement by Douglas, who was the first Black woman to win an Olympic individual all-around gold, in 2012, comes two weeks after four-times gold medallist Simone Biles confirmed her return to competition after a two-year hiatus.
With Douglas and Biles back in action, along with Tokyo gold medallist Sunisa Lee who has recovered from a kidney issue, the Americans would have their last three Olympic all-around champions in the Paris 2024 squad.
Unlike Biles and Lee, Douglas will not compete in next month’s US Classic.
“As you all know I stepped back from the socials and in that time, I did a lot of journaling, reflecting, soul searching and found myself back where it all began,” Douglas wrote on Instagram this week.
“It’s so easy to suppress and run away from facing darkness and fears for many years, I’ve had an ache in my heart but i didn’t want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness, or regret and through my tears and hurt, I’ve found peace.”
This week, Douglas said she had been wanting to “find the joy again” for gymnastics, and that while she understands she has a huge task ahead of her to get back to the Olympic floor, she is excited to return.
“loading….” she wrote in a post in which she shared a video of her training.
She made her Olympic debut at the London Summer Olympics. That competition was a huge success for her career as she became the first US gymnast to win the individual all-around and team titles at the same Olympic Games.
Douglas also became the first African American to win the all-around. Four years later, she earned another team gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.
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