Gabby Douglas Talks About Her Injuries That Prevented Her From Winning the Paris Olympics: “Very Bittersweet” (Exclusive)

The Olympic all-around champion from 2012 is currently concentrating on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. “In reality, age is just a number,” she says to PEOPLE.

Despite her diversion, famed gymnast Gabby Douglas insists she is still headed for the Olympics.

The 2012 Olympic all-around champion, whose attempt to compete in the Paris Olympics was derailed by an ankle injury sustained in late May, exclusively tells PEOPLE that she is now targeting the 2028 games in Los Angeles thanks to a relationship with Ancestry.

Douglas, 28, says, “I know it’s four years away, but I’m looking forward to it.” “I’m excited to be representing the USA and to keep doing gymnastics.”

For the Virginia native, who made Olympic history 12 years ago as the first Black gymnast to win the all-around title in London, it’s a dream that has been years in the making. Douglas was a member of the “Final Five” squad, which also included Simone Biles, that took home the team gold in Rio four years later.

However, Douglas’s return to competition after an eight-year hiatus wasn’t likely.

She describes her accident, which occurred while training the week before the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, to PEOPLE as “very bittersweet.” “And it was really performing my signature move—the full on the beam [stand].”

The gymnast’s withdrawal due to injury basically ended her hopes of competing in Paris, as the competition was her final opportunity to receive an invitation to the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Nevertheless, since she started training in gymnastics at the age of six, her passion for the sport hasn’t diminished.

Douglas remembers, “Even as a young person, I always loved going to the gym and challenging myself.” I’ve always been an extreme risk-taker. My coach would continually say, “Wait, hold on,” as I would just flip and attempt new things. For it, you’re not prepared. To begin learning the more challenging talents, let’s practice the fundamentals.

She is aware that Douglas will be 32 years old when the Summer Olympics occur in the future. However, she also thinks it’s something that is within reach.

She says to PEOPLE, “At this point, I feel like age is really just a number because my body can still do amazing things even at 28.” “And I really believe that anything is possible if you have the right nutrition, structure, timetable, and everything else in place.”

Douglas is getting ready for the challenge in the run-up to the Los Angeles Games, in part because of her work with Ancestry and the findings of a DNA characteristics test that showed how her genetics affect her agility.

Douglas’s Ancestry DNA test revealed a number of traits, including her love of team sports, increased likelihood of being flexible and possessing natural physical strength, and a propensity for leadership and achievement. She still needs to focus on improving her technique and balance, as the exam revealed.

Douglas, though, doesn’t require any more explanation for her unwavering determination to earn a berth on her third Olympic squad in the future.

The competitive aspect is my favorite part. I enjoy pushing myself in the gym and having fun experimenting with new abilities,” she says to PEOPLE.

“I’d never done a lot of the skills before,” Douglas continues. I had never performed a Downie or my bar connection, which was Healy, to link to Jaeger. Doing new things and recognizing, “Oh man, I still got it,” was thus a lot of joy.
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