Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas has a
second golden opportunity
By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 07.06.16
Word Count 716
Gabby Douglas is aiming to be the rare woman gymnast to compete in multiple Olympics. Photo: Duane Prokop, Oxygen
For Natalie Hawkins, nothing was worse than having to explain to her children why they
could not take showers after playing sports all afternoon. Hawkins was struggling to raise
four children largely alone. In 2009, Hawkins had to go on disability — she applied for
money from the government because she was physically unable to work. With only a trickle
of money coming in, she could not afford to pay the water bill.
An even lower point followed in 2011. Her youngest child, Gabby, was 15 at the time. A
tiny gymnast with a promising future and a dazzling smile, Gabby made a tearful call home
from Tokyo on a borrowed cell phone to tell her mother that the U.S. team had won gold at
the world championships.
"She was sobbing so much. I heard her say that she was all alone and had no one to
celebrate with," recalled Hawkins, who couldn't afford the trip to watch her daughter
compete in Tokyo. "I cried and told her, 'I will never miss another competition as long as
you're in this sport — no matter where you go on this continent or another. I will always be
there for you. I don't care if I have to stand on the side of the road and panhandle."
From Struggle To Stardom
At the 2012 London Olympics, Gabby Douglas became the first African-American to win
the all-around gold. She helped the U.S. women to the win the team gold. Her world
changed overnight.
Global media scrambled to tell her story — how she had traveled such a difficult road.
Book publishers and talk show hosts called. She wrote a book about her life, "Grace, Gold
and Glory: My Leap of Faith." A movie was filmed about her life, "The Gabby Douglas
Story." She was on the cover of Essence magazine. She had visits with Oprah and first lady
Michelle Obama.
Four years later, Douglas has evolved in many respects. Now 20 years old, she has grown
2 1/2 inches. The life of her family has evolved, too. Joined by her elder daughters, Arielle
and Joyelle, and son Johnathan, Hawkins moved from Virginia Beach to an elegant home
in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, to better manage Gabby's career.
Douglas' place in Olympic history is assured. Signed to marketing deals with the
companies AT&T, Nike and Citi, she also has a line of leotards that bear her name.
Going For The Gold, Again
Instead of resting on these achievements, Douglas is ready for the next challenge: a place
on the 2016 Rio Olympic team and going after another medal.
"I just feel like I haven't really reached 100 percent of my ability," Douglas said during the
U.S. Olympic media summit in March. "And I really want to do that: to go all out and do
bigger gymnastics than I did before."
And if she wins a third gold medal, she said, it will belong to her entire family.
The competitive life cycle of a female gymnast is brief and cruel. David Kruse, a former
gymnast turned orthopedist who coordinates medical care for USA Gymnastics and serves
as team physician to the men's team, said the goal for female gymnasts is to peak on an
Olympic cycle, ideally at age 16 to 18.
Simply making a second Olympic team is difficult for women. Just a handful have done it.
And more than 40 years have passed since any woman won back-to-back all-around gold.
Staying Strong And Healthy
The big challenge, Kruse explained, is simply staying healthy. The sport demands mobility,
flexibility and muscle strength. You cannot grow too quickly. You are constantly competing
against athletes who have intensely practiced since age 4 or 5. Finally, there's the
challenge posed by the next wave of competitors, ever younger and more skilled as
gymnastics' degree of difficulty ratchets up.
America once had a "Fierce Five" group of gymnasts that won gold medals during the
2012 Games. Now, only two are left.
Douglas' mother insisted that she take time off after her Olympic experience in London.
Douglas said she's glad she did. Her body and mind needed the break.
"My mental game is stronger this time," Douglas added. "I'm so confident when I go out
there that I'm letting things flow instead of muscling them."
Quiz
1
2
3
What is MOST likely the reason why the author included the explanations about the constant
competition in women’s gymnastics?
(A)
to show how hard Gabby has had to work to make the U.S. Olympic team
(B)
to show that some athletes begin competing at ages 4 and 5
(C)
to show that it is challenging to stay healthy, mobile, flexible and strong
(D)
to show how the “Fierce Five” won gold medals during the 2012 Olympic
games
If your friend wanted to decide whether or not she could aspire to become an Olympic
gymnast, would this article help?
(A)
No, because it doesn’t explain how someone tries out for the U.S.
gymnastics team.
(B)
No, because it does not describe the athletes who won back-to-back gold
medals.
(C)
Yes, because it shows how Olympic success leads to marketing deals,
worldwide fame and "Grace, Gold and Glory."
(D)
Yes, because it explains how one young girl, Gabby Douglas, met the
physical challenges despite her family’s poverty.
Read the section “From Struggle To Stardom.” Which of the following words, if it replaced the
word “assured” in the sentence below, would CHANGE the meaning of the sentence?
Douglas' place in Olympic history is assured.
4
(A)
guaranteed
(B)
certain
(C)
possible
(D)
promised
Read the first paragraph of the article. Which selection helps you understand the meaning of
the word “disability”?
(A)
... they could not take showers after playing sports all afternoon.
(B)
... she applied for money from the government because she was physically
unable to work.
(C)
Hawkins was struggling to raise four children largely alone.
(D)
With only a trickle of money coming in, she could not afford to pay the water
bill.
Answer Key
1
2
3
What is MOST likely the reason why the author included the explanations about the constant
competition in women’s gymnastics?
(A)
to show how hard Gabby has had to work to make the U.S. Olympic
team
(B)
to show that some athletes begin competing at ages 4 and 5
(C)
to show that it is challenging to stay healthy, mobile, flexible and strong
(D)
to show how the “Fierce Five” won gold medals during the 2012 Olympic
games
If your friend wanted to decide whether or not she could aspire to become an Olympic
gymnast, would this article help?
(A)
No, because it doesn’t explain how someone tries out for the U.S.
gymnastics team.
(B)
No, because it does not describe the athletes who won back-to-back gold
medals.
(C)
Yes, because it shows how Olympic success leads to marketing deals,
worldwide fame and "Grace, Gold and Glory."
(D)
Yes, because it explains how one young girl, Gabby Douglas, met the
physical challenges despite her family’s poverty.
Read the section “From Struggle To Stardom.” Which of the following words, if it replaced the
word “assured” in the sentence below, would CHANGE the meaning of the sentence?
Douglas' place in Olympic history is assured.
(A)
guaranteed
(B)
certain
(C)
possible
(D)
promised
4
Read the first paragraph of the article. Which selection helps you understand the meaning of
the word “disability”?
(A)
... they could not take showers after playing sports all afternoon.
(B)
... she applied for money from the government because she was
physically unable to work.
(C)
Hawkins was struggling to raise four children largely alone.
(D)
With only a trickle of money coming in, she could not afford to pay the water
bill.