Paris 2024 dreams end as Gabby Douglas withdraws from U.S. championships

Three-time Olympic gymnastics gold medallist Gabby Douglas of the United States will not take part in the upcoming U.S. Gymnastics Championships, set for May 30-June 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Douglas sustained an ankle injury this week in training, according to ESPN.

"I love this sport and I love pushing my limits," said Douglas. "I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number, and you can accomplish anything you work hard for."

The 28-year-old had failed to qualify for the all-around in her two competitive outings, the American and U.S. Classics, her first since the Olympic Games Rio 2016. However, she had scored high enough to compete on three apparatus: vault, uneven bars and balance beam.

This might not be the end for Douglas, who says she has dreams of LA 2028.

"My plan is to continue to train for the L.A. 2028 Olympics. It would be such an honor to represent the U.S. at a home Olympics," she said.

Douglas’ history-making career first captivated the world at London 2012, where she helped Team USA to its first team gold medal in 20 years. Days later, she soared to the all-around crown, a first for an African American.

Following a competitive break, Douglas returned to the mat in 2015, again helping Team USA to a World team title and finishing runner-up in the all-around to superstar Simone Biles in the all-around at the global meet.

At Rio 2016, she missed the all-around final despite finishing third in the qualifying standings due to a rule that only allows two athletes per nation to advance. Biles and fellow London 2012 gold medallist Aly Raisman were first and second there.

Still, Douglas played an integral role in that squad’s team win – her third Olympic gold medal – contributing a 15.766 on the uneven bars in the medal round.

Douglas hadn’t competed since the Rio Games until late April this year.

It was a highly anticipated comeback that had been in the works since the middle of 2022 when Douglas felt her competitive fire reignited watching the U.S. championships.

"I was watching the 2022 [U.S.] championships, and I was like, 'Man, I miss competing.' And, I was trying to figure out how to get like, this... I'm still a competitor at heart.... I can get this out of me, and so I decided to start back training," Douglas told Hallie Jackson during an interview with NBC News Now. "I can't believe I'm in this sport again."

Though Douglas may not be headed to Paris later this summer, during a press availability earlier this month at the U.S. Classic, she expressed gratitude for her abilities and a rekindled love of the sport.

“I am very, very grateful to be here. I am so fortunate to have … the body I have, the work ethic, stuff like that. It’s a really fun moment, honestly, I’m grateful,” she said, beaming. “I missed gymnastics and I loved it. It ended rough for me in 2016, and so I didn’t want to end on that note, like regardless of the outcome, I wanted to make sure end on love and joy instead of hating something that I love.”