Gabby Douglas Makes Gymnastics Comeback at American Classic with Winning Performance

The accomplished gymnast Gabby Douglas partook in her initial competition since 2016’s Rio Games on Saturday at the American Classic event. Douglas famously became the first Black woman to clinch an Olympic all-around title during the London Olympics of 2012, and she posted a score of 50.65 in the overall category for this latest competition. The athlete showcased her double-twisting Yurchenko move on vault, which ultimately emerged as her standout performance throughout the contest. Given Douglas’ achievement at American Classic, she has already qualified to participate in multiple events during next month’s U.S. Championships, potentially competing for an all-around position again if she chooses. After representing Team USA and winning a team competition alongside their 2012 victory in London, the athlete took time away from gymnastics but never officially retired. Douglas announced her comeback attempt following the previous year’s U.S Championships with over two years of intense training ahead. While scheduled to return last February during the Winter Cup, she had to forfeit those plans as a result of COVID-19 complications. The American Classic event will be followed by another competition in three weeks called US Classic, leading into U.S Championships two weeks after that. Following June’s Olympic Trials and less than one month later is the Olympics themselves.