In an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday, Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas said she experienced racism and felt isolated when she trained in Virginia Beach. The owner of Excalibur Gymnastics countered, saying the accusations are untrue.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gabby is a fantastic gymnast, one of the best of all time.
Part of that success should be credited to the gym where she trained for 6 1/2 years.
I was disappointed that Gabby and her Mom, future millionaires, were unable to take the high road. And move on.
Instead they expanded on why Gabby left Excalibur. Good for ratings. Exactly the kind of talk Oprah wants to hear.
Women’s artistic gymnasts are as “protected” as any children in any city. The gym is an environment where there’s no profanity, and less racism than anywhere else in town. Gabby is far more vulnerable at school. Or walking down the street. In Virgina Beach or Des Moines.
This headline is not at all the main storyline of Gabby’s career:
Gabby Douglas to Oprah: I was ‘bullied,’ called ‘slave’ during early gymnastics training in Virginia
Hyperbolic sensationalism in the mainstream press.
Sad day for Gymnastics. One of the best stories of the Olympics gone sour.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 