by Benson Agoha | Sports
Few hours after her Podium Training on the Uneven Bars on Friday, Gabby Douglas, often described as the `flying squirrel' of American gymnastics, won her first ever AT&T American Cup.
Saturday's win by the 20-year-old, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., was her first gold since winning the Olympic all-around at the London Olympics in 2012.
Winning the American Cup does not come easy, especially for women. In fact "since 1980, only six American women have gone on to compete in a second Olympics. No woman has repeated as gold medalist since Věra Čáslavská in 1968", according to USA Today.
“From the bottom of my heart, I really believe that I can achieve more,” Douglas said, adding “And it’s just not for the wrong intentions. I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m back. I’m serious.’ I feel like gradually and the more and more I keep proving that, I really hope that people believe it.”
Her latest achievement is a surprise to many a coach and renown gymnastic coach and former national team coordinator Bela Karolyi says that Douglas is one of a kind.
“I’ve never seen something like that in my life,” said Karolyi, whose wife is current national team coordinator Martha Karolyi, adding: “If somebody in my life has a chance to repeat, she’s the one.”
For now Douglas is describably invincible, at least if African American teammate, the three-time defending world champion, Simone Biles is off the list, reckoned Bela Karolyi.
“If she manages to add, to update the difficulty level of the performances, then she’s going to be a hell of a competitor for Simone,” he said.
Winning the American Cup does not come easy, especially for women. In fact "since 1980, only six American women have gone on to compete in a second Olympics. No woman has repeated as gold medalist since Věra Čáslavská in 1968", according to USA Today.
“From the bottom of my heart, I really believe that I can achieve more,” Douglas said, adding “And it’s just not for the wrong intentions. I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m back. I’m serious.’ I feel like gradually and the more and more I keep proving that, I really hope that people believe it.”
Her latest achievement is a surprise to many a coach and renown gymnastic coach and former national team coordinator Bela Karolyi says that Douglas is one of a kind.
“I’ve never seen something like that in my life,” said Karolyi, whose wife is current national team coordinator Martha Karolyi, adding: “If somebody in my life has a chance to repeat, she’s the one.”
For now Douglas is describably invincible, at least if African American teammate, the three-time defending world champion, Simone Biles is off the list, reckoned Bela Karolyi.
“If she manages to add, to update the difficulty level of the performances, then she’s going to be a hell of a competitor for Simone,” he said.
Watch Gabby Douglas win her gold at the Greenwich Peninsular during the Olympics:
Watch Simone Biles in action in Glasgow 2015:
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