Twice a gold medal winner in the London 2012 Olympics, Gabby Douglas will be the last gymnast to perform Monday on the uneven bars – her specialty, and apparatus that earned America’s new women's gymnastics sweetheart the “Flying Squirrel” moniker.
Can she do it again?
Yes, if she’s focused, her coach, Liang Chow, told USA Today’s Kelly Whiteside.
He thinks Douglas will be focused, despite an onslaught of publicity surrounding the history-making gymnast, who moved to West Des Moines two years ago to train at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute. That's the same place Shawn Johnson trained before earning four medals, including a gold on the balance beam, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"She had two good days of training after the all-around," Chow said of Douglas. "She's still fighting for more medals."
Douglas was the first African-American in history to win the all-around gold medal – something only three other American gymnasts have achieved. She was also the first African-American gymnast to medal since 1996, when Dominique Dawes won a bronze in the floor exercise.
The finals start at 8:50 a.m. Iowa time (2:50 p.m. London time). She’ll compete for a final time Tuesday on the balance beam Tuesday at 8:47 a.m. Iowa time (2:47 p.m. London time).
Nick Zaccardi, writing for Inside Gymnastics in Sports Illustrated says Douglas’s fiercest competition will come from defending champion He Kexin of China. Zaccardi picks Great Britain’s Beth Twaddle to win the silver and Russia’s Viktoria Komova to win the bronze.
In the qualifying rounds last weekend, Douglas finished sixth on the bars with 15.333.
If you read this story, you might also like:
- Gabby Douglas’s Mom Talks About Raising a Gold Medalist: London 2012 Olympics
- Gold in 2012 London Olympics for Gabby Douglas Could Mean Millions of Dollars in Endorsement Deals
- In London Olympics, Douglas Is Exposing West Des Moines to Gold Medal Publicity
- VIDEO: Gabby Douglas’s Friends and Coaches React to Her Winning Gold at West Des Moines Watch Party
- Iowa’s Gabby Douglas Back In Action Monday: London 2012 Olympics Women’s Gymnastics Schedule
- London 2012 Olympics: Iowans Rejoice Over The Great Gabby
- London 2012 Olympics, Women's Gymnastics Medal Results: Go, Gabby, Go!
- Gabby Douglas Gives World a Glimpse of What’s Ahead at London 2012 Olympics
- Shawn Johnson Face of Today Show’s Facebook Page During London 2012 Olympics
- London 2012 Track and Field Schedule: Lolo Jones and Other Athletes with Iowa Ties