Gabby Douglas is the super talented, super enthusiastic, somewhat unpredictable wunderkind. Nobody can understand how she flies and jumps so high.
Gabrielle Douglas is the new Olympic Champion on Oprah. Starting to believe her own story.
Wall Street Journal:
… The 16-year-old African-American gymnast appeared on the show “Oprah’s Next Chapter” and said that when she was around 14 years old and in training with other gymnasts “I felt I was being bullied and isolated from the group… Just, they treated me, not how they would treat their other teammates.” …
Click PLAY or watch part of that interview on YouTube.
So far as I’ve heard, those accusations are wrong and/or exaggerated. As are some of the other statements she and her mother have made repeatedly to media.
Randy Stageburg is a former Senior International Elite and National Team member:
This is absolutely ridiculous. I trained at Excalibur gymnastics for 8 years and I personally trained with Gabby for 2 of those years. The accusations that are being made against the gymnasts and coaches are just sickening. I watched Dena and Gustavo put so much of their time and effort into gabby and the other athletes, no matter their race. Gabby was never a victim …
I also trained with Morgan Evans, Marcia Newby, Britney Ranzy and Sheriese Clark all of which were on the national team and are African American. I can assure you they all have nothing but great things to say about their experience at Excalibur. …
Kristina Coccia (aka Sharky) is a former Senior International Elite who trained at Parkettes:
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the Excalibur coaches for many years- never once would I question their coaching or love for their athletes. …
I know numerous gymnasts who experienced nothing but fantastic memories from Excalibur. Pay back the money you owe, stop playing the victim and respect the coaches who got you to the Elite level. Because the Excalibur family is one that I personally remember during my career. This entire story makes me sick …
Those quotes come from GymNewstics.
More will come forward now.
… I’m not so sure Gabrielle’s going to be the great celebrity Gabby should be. 😦
Her agent, Sheryl Shade, needs get to work.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 