We got you, Gabby

August 15, 2016

Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas can’t win this year.

According to social media trolls, her hair should be tamed. She should have put her hand over her heart during the national anthem, not stand at attention out of respect for her country. The beads of perspiration that have accumulated during countless backflips, twists and awkward turns should line up just so — how dare she let anyone see her sweat.

Despite letting our patriotic pride and stellar athletic careers (that never were) give way to critical comments on all fronts, we must remember that athletes are human, and humans — surprise, surprise — are capable of feeling emotions. We have to remember that Douglas, a 20-year-old who has earned three gold medals in her Olympic career, proudly dons the red, white and blue not only for herself, but the entire United States of America. It becomes less about an individual medal and more about representing an entire nation while giving 100 percent during every performance and smiling through it all — whether social media detractors can see it or not.

Don’t you worry, Gabby. Your #BlackGirlMagic is evident in each and every turn, twist, tumble and contortion of your limbs, wins and defeats — through your smiles, and even through your tears. It’s the beauty of who you are as a woman, an Olympic gold medalist, who is unafraid to take the leaps and risks while making mental and physical sacrifices in a successful career most gymnasts can only dream to have. Despite the few jeers, there are a million more cheers from those who recognize your achievements. There are many little girls who look at you, and their Barbie dolls and see themselves.

The world needs you, and despite the negativity from social media that tends to breed trolls, we are proud of who and what you have become. Continue to fly high.

We got you.

Scroll through the gallery to take a look at Gabby’s most magical career moments.

View

FILE - In this May 14, 2012, file photo, Gabrielle Douglas poses for a portrait at the Team USA Media Summit in Dallas. Douglas, who became the first African-American gymnast to claim gymnasticsÕ biggest prize _ the all-around Olympic title _ is The Associated PressÕ 2012 female athlete of the year. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)

FILE - In this May 14, 2012, file photo, Gabrielle Douglas poses for a portrait at the Team USA Media Summit in Dallas. Douglas, who became the first African-American gymnast to claim gymnasticsÕ biggest prize _ the all-around Olympic title _ is The Associated PressÕ 2012 female athlete of the year. (AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)
July 1, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Gabrielle Douglas warms up on the balance beam during the 2012 USA Gymnastics Olympic Team Trials at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

July 1, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Gabrielle Douglas warms up on the balance beam during the 2012 USA Gymnastics Olympic Team Trials at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States performs on the floor exercise as her team cheers her on in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on July 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States performs on the floor exercise as her team cheers her on in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team final on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on July 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
U.S. gymnasts, left to right, Jordyn Wieber, Gabrielle Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, Kyla Ross raise their hands on the podium during the medal ceremony during the Artistic Gymnastic women's team final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. Team U.S. won the gold. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

U.S. gymnasts, left to right, Jordyn Wieber, Gabrielle Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, Kyla Ross raise their hands on the podium during the medal ceremony during the Artistic Gymnastic women's team final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in London. Team U.S. won the gold. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Aug 6, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Gabrielle Douglas (USA) salutes before competing in the women's gymnastics uneven bars final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 6, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Gabrielle Douglas (USA) salutes before competing in the women's gymnastics uneven bars final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States competes on the balance beam in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States competes on the balance beam in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Gabrielle Douglas of the United States celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England.

Gabrielle Douglas of the United States celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Individual All-Around final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 2, 2012 in London, England.
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 4297 -- Pictured: (l-r) First Lady Michelle Obama, Olympic Gymnast Gabrielle 'Gabby' Douglas during an interview with host Jay Leno on August 13, 2012 -- (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO -- Episode 4297 -- Pictured: (l-r) First Lady Michelle Obama, Olympic Gymnast Gabrielle 'Gabby' Douglas during an interview with host Jay Leno on August 13, 2012 -- (Photo by: Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas attends the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Douglas attends the 33rd Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 17, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage)
U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas trains at the Karolyi Ranch Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in New Waverly, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas trains at the Karolyi Ranch Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in New Waverly, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas trains at the Karolyi Ranch Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in New Waverly, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas trains at the Karolyi Ranch Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in New Waverly, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Gabrielle Douglas walks on the mat after falling while competing on the balance beam during the women's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, Calif., Friday, July 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Gabrielle Douglas walks on the mat after falling while competing on the balance beam during the women's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, Calif., Friday, July 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Gabrielle Douglas, right, hugs Ashton Locklear after being named to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team after the women's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Gabrielle Douglas, right, hugs Ashton Locklear after being named to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team after the women's U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States competes on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States competes on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the qualifying for the women's Floor event of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Antonin THUILLIERANTONIN THUILLIER/AFP/Getty Images

US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the qualifying for the women's Floor event of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Antonin THUILLIERANTONIN THUILLIER/AFP/Getty Images
US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the Uneven Bars event during the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the Uneven Bars event during the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: (L to R) Gold Medalists Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Lauren Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Alexandra Raisman of the United States stand on the podium for the national anthem at the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: (L to R) Gold Medalists Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Lauren Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Alexandra Raisman of the United States stand on the podium for the national anthem at the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States poses for photographs with her gold medal after the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States poses for photographs with her gold medal after the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States prepares to compete on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Gabrielle Douglas of the United States prepares to compete on the floor during Women's qualification for Artistic Gymnastics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 7, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)