Gabby Douglas forced to delay her return to gymnastics after testing positive for Covid – four months from US Olympic Team trials for Paris games this summer: ‘I’m crushed’
- Douglas hopes to make a comeback to the U.S. Olympic team at age 28
- It has been twelve years since she won individual all-round gold at the London Games
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
US Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has postponed a planned return to gymnastics after testing positive for Covid.
She was in Louisville preparing to compete in the 2024 Winter Cup in the beam, floor and vault events when she announced the news.
‘Hey guys. I’m so sad to say that I won’t be taking part in the competition this weekend. I was so excited to get back on the competition floor, but unfortunately I just tested positive for COVID,” Douglas shared on her Instagram account.
‘Thank you so much for all your support and positive energy – it really means the world to me.
‘I’m devastated, but I’ll see you soon! I send my best to everyone who participates.”
American gymnast Gabby Douglas had to postpone a return to the sport due to a Covid battle
It has been twelve years since Douglas won individual all-round gold at the London Olympics
(L-R) Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Kyla Ross stand on the podium after winning team all-around gold in 2012 as the U.S. national anthem played
Douglas (second from left) won team gold again with the United States in Rio in 2016
Just weeks ago, the 28-year-old gymnast officially confirmed that she would attempt to make a comeback at the Olympics, 12 years after she set the world on fire at the 2012 London Olympics.
There, Douglas won the individual all-around gold medal – placing first in the vault and beam events, while placing third in the uneven bars and fourth in the floor routine to beat Russia’s Viktoria Komova.
She also triumphed in the all-around team event, the second time the U.S. has ever won gold, as part of a team that included Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and Kyla Ross.
Douglas was also on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where the Americans repeated their team’s all-around gold success.
In addition to Douglas and 2012 teammate Raisman, they were joined in their repeat in Brazil by Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles.
Douglas finished third in qualifying for the individual all-around event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but did so behind teammates Biles and Raisman. Due to a strict rule to allow only two participants per country in the individual finals, Douglas was not allowed to participate.