Gabby Douglas Shares Evolution Of Olympic Leotards On TikTok

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has joined the newest TikTok craze, showcasing her leotards from through the years in sync with the addictive “Emergency, paging Dr. Beat” sound.

In 2012, Douglas turned the primary African-American lady to win the person all-around Olympic gold medal, altering the game without end. Plus, as a member of the long-lasting “Fierce 5,” Douglas helped the U.S. crew win the gold medal within the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Sadly, her Olympic comeback was lower quick when an ankle harm pressured her to withdraw from the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which crushed Douglas’ hopes of competing within the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Whereas sidelined from aggressive gymnastics, Gabby Douglas has captured hearts once more, this time on TikTok, as she hopped on the newest trend–“Emergency, paging Dr. Beat.”

Gabby Douglas secured her spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics crew by clinching the all-around title on the Olympic Trials in San Jose, California.

“It’s the whole lot I believed it’d be,” Douglas stated on the time, per NBC. “It means a lot. All of the laborious work and dedication and energy put within the health club and laborious days. Arduous days are the perfect as a result of that’s (the place) champions are made, so in case you push by way of the laborious days, you will get by way of something.”

One of many many leotards Gabby Douglas modeled was her iconic pink leo from the 2012 Olympics, held in London, the place she was a part of the legendary “Fierce 5” gymnastics crew. Alongside Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Kyla Ross, she clinched the gold medal for the USA. Douglas was the one member of the U.S. “Fierce 5” to compete in all 4 events–vault, uneven bars, stability beam, and ground train.

Followers of the athlete instantly acknowledged the pink leotard as feedback got here pouring in. “THE ICONIC PINK,” one person stated as one other commented, “The pink was a second in historical past.”

“THE PINK LEO… THAT IS HISTORY,” a 3rd wrote.

“I take into consideration the pink leo often,” a fourth expressed.

That very same 12 months, she made historical past as she turned the primary African-American lady to win the coveted all-around gold.

Regardless of posting the third-highest rating within the all-around preliminaries on the 2016 Rio Olympics, Gabby Douglas couldn’t defend her title on the 2016 Olympics as a result of a rule limiting two opponents per nation.

“After the 2016 Olympics—I truthfully didn’t do my finest, and that Olympics didn’t go fairly in my favor— however I realized that medals, or like Grammys or Oscars, they’re superb and so they characterize your laborious work, however it’s not who you’re,” the athlete instructed TIME Journal final 12 months. “It doesn’t outline you. You already know you do your craft. That’s what you do, however it’s not who you’re. And it took me a very long time to determine that out. And I’d at all times say like, with out my medals I’m nothing.”

Douglas added, “I’m nonetheless a human being, I nonetheless have many different abilities to offer, rather more than simply gymnastics. It’s so bizarre, however I assume it is smart, as a result of in case you begin to do the factor each single day… gymnastics was each single day since I used to be six. So, [with] gymnastics, [I was] like: that is who I’m. Nevertheless it’s not who I’m.”

In complete, Gabby Douglas modeled eight leotards from through the years. “In honor of the Olympics thought I might share some throwback leos,” she captioned the video.

Following her 2012 Olympics win, turning into the primary Black U.S. gymnast to win the Particular person All-Round gold medal, Gabby Douglas mirrored on the “surreal” second.

” I used to be instructed at all times: simply go on the market, do nothing extra, nothing much less. Do the way you do in coaching. And the outcomes will converse for itself,” she instructed TIME. “So like each competitors, all I had in thoughts was simply 4 occasions. Do your regular and also you’re going to be tremendous. And that’s what I did. And I truthfully, to this present day, by no means anticipated to have that form of influence on individuals [and] on the game.”

At 28 years of age, Gabby Douglas continues to advocate for psychological well being. Just like Simone Biles, who dropped out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a result of “twisties,” Gabby Douglas stepped away from gymnastics for eight years to look after her psychological well being.

“I did not need to finish this sport how I did in 2016. I wished to take a step again and work on my psychological state,” she shared in a latest interview, in accordance with Yahoo. “I really like gymnastics and love pushing myself. I by no means wished to stroll away on a nasty day.”