Gabby Douglas, a three-time gold medalist in gymnastics, made a comeback at the American Classic competition in Texas, where she successfully qualified to compete at the U.S. Championships and potentially at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Although she finished 10th in the all-around, her scores on the vault and balance beam secured her spot in those events at the U.S. Championships. Douglas will have to file a petition to compete in all four events. This competition was a crucial stepping stone towards her goal of making the Paris team and offered a glimpse of her training progress during her comeback.
Jade Carey, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the floor exercise, won the all-around competition at the American Classic. While this event may not directly impact Douglas’ chances of making the Paris team, her performance showed promise for her return to competitive gymnastics. Despite a shaky start on the floor exercise, Douglas impressed with a strong performance on the vault, a standout event for her. She still needs to improve on the uneven bars, but her clutch performance on the balance beam secured her qualification for the U.S. Championships.
After initially planning to make her return at the Winter Cup in February, Douglas withdrew due to a positive Covid test. The 28-year-old gymnast announced her intention to return to the Olympics earlier this year. Douglas made history in 2012 as the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold medal, and she continued her success in 2016 by helping the U.S. women secure their second consecutive team gold medal. Her decision not to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was seen by many as a de facto retirement, making her comeback all the more surprising and inspiring.
Suni Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist, is also attempting to return to the Olympics after facing kidney issues last year. Lee competed at the American Classic on the balance beam and vault, marking the first senior competition where she competed against Douglas. After a disappointing performance at the Winter Cup, Lee showed improvement at this competition with cleaner routines, although lacking in full difficulty. Her strong performances on the balance beam and vault qualified her for the U.S. Championships, where she will also need to petition to compete in the all-around.
The road to Paris qualification continues with the Core Hydration Classic in May, followed by the U.S. Olympic trials in June in Minneapolis. Athletes will be competing for spots on the U.S. Olympic team, with selection based on their performances at the U.S. Championships. If Douglas is named to the team, she will be the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to make three Olympic teams. Fellow gymnast Simone Biles, who was Douglas’ teammate in Rio, is also aiming for her third Olympic team. The final selection of the gymnasts representing the U.S. in Paris will be determined at the Olympic trials.
