Gabby Douglas on floor at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

 

Gabby: He and I just said, "Okay, why have a reason to doubt yourself, I mean, this is just another practice, another, kind of treat it as another Visa, don't put a lot of stress on yourself," but I was actually not that nervous going into the other events, but I headed strong, and I'm just so very proud of myself.

 

Interviewer: Let's be honest. Were you surprised at all with the individuals they selected for the team?

 

Gabby: I really wasn't. I knew they kind of had a little bit of a pick, um, they have to beforehand, so I was so happy to see the team named, and everyone was so emotional, and it was just a very happy moment.

 

Interviewer: And, last question, have you even thought about the impact you're going to make on the African American community?

Gabby: Oh my gosh, I just thought about it now, and I mean you did it, so I'm going to follow that streak, and I'm going to go and represent USA as best as I can.

 

Interviewer: You did the Dougie.

Gabby: (laughs)

 

Interviewer: It's all over the internet. It really is. It came on my Twitter feed. 

Gabby: Wow.

 

Interviewer: Why did you do the Dougie?

Gabby: (laughs)

 

Interviewer: How great was it to have your father here in the audience? He's over in Afghanistan. He was able to fly in and see you tonight.

Gabby: Um, it just feels so great. I mean. Ah! This hard work has paid off and he's up in stands  holding up a flag, and I just felt so honored, and we kind of have this connection of representing USA and, you know, our country, so it just feel so amazing.

 

Interviewer: Now, you're coming off, I mean you literally just found out you got a lock on the team, what do you do from now, between now and London to ensure that Team USA wins a gold?

Gabby: I'm not going to tighten up, you know, I've got this in the bag. I'm going to go in the gym, and, of course, um, I wasn't perfect tonight. I had the little wobbles on beam and kind of made a missed connection on bars, but, ya know, that's what training is for, so I'm just going to go right back in the gym, and just, polish up my skills and mainly do a lot of focus routines, pressure routines, and mainly focus on consistency and quality over quantity. 

 

Interviewer: Last question, you came into tonight neck-in-neck with Jordyn Wieber. How did it feel to win?

Gabby: Oh man, it feels so amazing to win. I mean, having so many brutal and hard years and just peaking at the right time, and just, coming up on top, ya know, kind of being the underdog, rising up is just so, it just feels so awesome right now. Thank you.

 

Interviewer: Gabby, are you an underdog any more?

Gabby: (laughs) I don't think so!

 

Interviewer: Are you alright with that?

Gabby: Yeah, I'm alright with that. I just, everyone's telling me that you have this great potential, and you can be on top, so, um, I didn't believe it at first, but, ya know, everyone's telling me believe in myself, and I did, and I just, ya know I'm kind of up on the top and, wow, I just feel so amazing. (laughs)

 

Interviewer: What can you tell me about the support you've gotten from home?

Gabby: Man, the support I've got, everyone's tweeting at me and messaging me, saying, "Virginia is behind your back" and "we salute you" and just, just "go out there and do you" "be Gabby and just don't get distracted, just focus", so I was very happy and honored to be, um, supportive, and I feel so loved.

 

Interviewer: And what do you think about when you think about London?

Gabby: I think about London, I'm just like, wow I finally made it, and hopefully, I can um, catch some accents from them 'cause I've always wanted an accent, so (crowd laughs), hopefully I can pick up that, and I'm just so excited to represent Team USA.

 

Interviewer: Can you do a British accent right now?

Gabby: No, I can't. I don't know, yeah. (laughs) I'm going to though.

 

Interviewer: What did you think when you looked up at the scoreboard? I know you noticed, right at the end, you looked up, and was it like, ya know, Jordyn has been on top when you looked up before from like many times before. How did you feel when you looked and saw?

Gabby: Man, it just felt so awesome, and they said that you get the lock, and, I mean, I got the lock, and I was so happy to represent Team USA and, um, after my floor routine, I was just like "Yes!" I mean, I just want to go out there and do the best floor routine I can possibly do, and I looked up at the scoreboard, and I saw I got a 15.3, and someone in the stands was like, "Gabby! You won." I was like, "Oh my gosh!" This is like, this is like so real and a dream come true. I mean, I remember just starting on vault, and now we're talking to you guys, so I mean, that's amazing.

 

Interviewer: On bars, I mean, it looked like your right hand slipped on the connection and then, I mean, it didn't seem to be a big deal.

Gabby: (laughs) Yeah, on my pan I didn't get enough support on my right hand. I just kind of slipped back, and I was like, "Okay, yeah just grab the bar and just finish this routine, and kind of don't make it a big deal. Like, "Oh! Slip and fall!" ya know. Just, you gotta learn how to fight and when you're a little crooked, or, um, you do a little balance check, I mean, you want to make it look like nothing happened. (laughs)

 

Interviewer: Does it give you a lot more confidence going into the Olympics knowing you won?

Gabby: It really does. I mean, I've been feeling so confident, so much more confident, American Cup, Pacific Rim, and Classics and Visa's and now this, and my confidence is just gaining so much during these competitions, and I just feel, just, really happy. (laughs)

 

Interviewer: What do you attribute that confidence to? Over the last year, you've just blossom in your confidence and your poise. What do you attribute that to?

Gabby: I attribute that to Coach Chow and Coach Li. Just, man, they've just shaped me into the awesome and just better gymnast in a matter of like a couple years, so I owe it all to them. I mean, God too. This God-given talent, so, um, just Chow and Li have been so great to me. And I just want to thank them.

 

Interviewer: Gabby, was this the first time even as an itty-bitty that you beat Jordyn in the all around? I mean, how about when you guys were, ya know, younger levels?

Gabby: Um, I don't know if we competed against each other because we were different states, so…

 

Interviewer: Yeah, but, first time?

Gabby: Yes, yeah. 

 

Interviewer: What's going through your head right now?

Gabby: Oh man, a lot. I mean, I was very emotional when they announced the team, and I'm just very happy and so excited to go on and represent Team USA!