Gabby Douglas Reveals Bullying, Torment With Racial Slurs on Oprah's Next Chapter
by Free Britney at .Gabby Douglas' road to Olympic glory was far from easy.
The 16-year-old revealed to Oprah Winfrey on Sunday's Oprah's Next Chapter that she was often bullied and tormented - even at a local gym.
"One of my teammates was like, 'Can you scrape the bar?'" Douglas recalled. "And they were like, 'Why doesn't Gabby do it, she's our slave?'"
"I definitely felt isolated, I felt why am I deserving this? Is it because I'm black? Those thoughts would go through my mind," said the champ.
The teasing got so bad that, at age 14, Gabby Douglas threatened to quit the sport altogether if they couldn't move away and find a new coach.
"I felt like I was bullied and isolated from the group, and they treated me not how they would treat the other teammates," the star admitted.
Indeed, Douglas eventually did move to Des Moines, Iowa, to train at Liang Chow's gym, where fellow Olympic champ Shawn Johnson trained.
Fast forward two years and she's the first ever African-American individual all-around winner, as well as a gold medalist with her teammates.
There will always be Gabby Douglas hair haters, but there's no doubt about who came out on top - and whose future is nothing but bright.
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Comments (15 Total)
Wow @ napalminam u sound like u were right there when this happened. I must say ur pretend scenario does show what a great imagination u must have. But only ONE problem u weren't there so basically ur just full of shit making stuff up like u know something. If u know so much what was the real reason she moved then?
I'm tired of hearing about this buck-tooth kid. Bad hair blah blah, gold medal blah blah now it's the poor, black person's so-called "plight". We heard this story before--- zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If you do not like the racism on thg or the way matt treats and talks about non white give SHE KNOWS a email it is the big company thg is partnered with SHE KNOWS would not likely approve of the ravism and anti gay speech on thg .Matt is proud of his racist rants lets see if SHE KNOWS likes it too.
People who knew her were interviewed. Just like Obama, she's full of embellishments, and lies. Oh, poor me, what a struggle. " How much will you pay me, to film my biography?
That is completely anecdotal. Just because there are black people at your office that may sweat more does not mean that all black people sweat more. You are generalizing and stereotyping. Stop being racist!