Gabby Douglas
Olympic all-around champion and history-making gymnast.
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas, born December 31, 1995, is an American artistic gymnast who won the Olympic all-around gold in 2012 and the World all-around silver in 2015. She competed on the gold-medal U.S. teams at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, known as the “Fierce Five” and “Final Five,” and also helped the U.S. win team gold at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships. Douglas was the 2012 U.S. uneven bars champion and the 2016 American Cup all-around champion. She made history as the first African American to claim an Olympic individual all-around title and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the all-around and team events at the same Games. With six Olympic and World medals, she ranks 11th among U.S. female gymnasts all time. Her achievements inspired the 2014 Lifetime film *The Gabby Douglas Story* and the reality series *Douglas Family Gold*. She has authored two books, *Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith* and *Raising the Bar*, and won the first season of *The Masked Dancer* in 2021.
- Born
- December 31, 1995
- Field
- Artistic gymnastics
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- First African American Olympic all-around gold medalist; first U.S. gymnast to win both team and individual all-around gold at same Olympics
Lore & Background
Douglas is the first African American to win an Olympic individual all-around title, and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympic Games. With a total of six Olympic and World Championship medals, she is the 11th most decorated U.S. female gymnast of all time.
Did You Know?
- Douglas won the all-around gold at the 2012 Olympics.
- She won the all-around silver at the 2015 World Championships.
- She was a contestant on the first season of The Masked Dancer in 2021, but did not win the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gabby Douglas?
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas is an American artistic gymnast born on December 31, 1995, best known for her landmark 2012 Olympic all-around gold medal. She competed at the elite level primarily throughout the 2010s, representing the United States in both individual and team events.
Why was Gabby Douglas's 2012 all-around gold so historic?
She became the first African American gymnast ever to claim the Olympic individual all-around title. On top of that, she was the first U.S. gymnast to win both the team gold and the individual all-around gold at the same Olympic Games.
What Olympic and World Championship medals did Gabby Douglas win?
Douglas earned team gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics as part of the Fierce Five and Final Five squads, plus individual all-around gold in 2012. She also added a bronze in the all-around at the 2015 World Championships and team gold at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships.
What is the 'Fierce Five' in gymnastics?
The Fierce Five is the nickname for the U.S. women's gymnastics team that captured the Olympic team gold medal at the 2012 London Games. Gabby Douglas was one of the five gymnasts on that historic squad.
Why is Gabby Douglas considered a gymnastics icon?
Her 2012 run shattered a racial barrier by making her the first African American to win the Olympic all-around title, a milestone fans still celebrate today. Her ability to deliver both team and individual all-around gold at a single Olympics also set a new standard for American gymnasts.
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