Relatively new to elite gymnastics, Gabrielle Douglas is America’s “Flying Squirrel,” a nickname earned from her gravity-defying release moves on the uneven bars. A potential contender for the coveted all-around title, Douglas, 16, earned her spot on the women’s team by winning the Olympic trials by one-tenth of a point over world champion (and U.S. teammate in London) Jordyn Wieber. Douglas is from Virginia Beach but lives with a host family in West Des Moines, Iowa, to train with coach Liang Chow. With Wieber and the rest of the five-woman squad, Douglas hopes to bring U.S. gymnastics its first team gold since 1996.
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Gabrielle Douglas
Gymnastics, U.S.
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