Just under two weeks ago, Gabby Douglas had a coming out party at the 2012 American Cup in New York City, posting the highest all around score with her upgraded routines and clean execution to outscore reigning World Champion Jordyn Wieber. Douglas made a strong statement for the 2012 US Olympic team. This weekend, she will have another big opportunity in representing the US team of 3 senior gymnasts at the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships in Washington. 

Coach Liang Chow looks on as Gabby Douglas trains beam at the 2012 American Cup.

But how did Gabby get there? It's been a long jounrney which includes taking a gamble to move away from home at age 14 and live with a host family in Iowa. There is a great new article on Gabby Douglas in ThePostGame.com that details her journey. 

 

Douglas spent most of her career at Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach, winning numerous state titles and working her way to the elite level. When we interviewed Gabby at her first junior elite US Classic in 2010 she was a confident, bubbly young gymnast who stated, "I want to win the Classic!". She didn't win that year's title, but since that moment, Gabby has been selected to the National team, moved away from her family to train under coach Liang Chow at Chow's Gymnastics in Des Moines, and helped Team USA to the 2011 World Championships team gold medal. 

Liang Chow coaches gymnasts Gabby Douglas and Shwan Johnson at the 2011 CoverGirl Classic. 
 

She's nicknamed "The Flying Squirrel" by US National Team Coordinator by Martha Karolyi (find out why here) and was the youngest competitor at last year's World Championships, eligible for senior elite competition by just one day! It looks like there is a big year to come for the talented young gymnast. To learn more about Gabby's journey and read the full article on ThePostGame, click here. 

 

To view Gymnastike videos and photos of Gabby Douglas, click here.