Olympic gold medalist and beloved gymnast Gabby Douglas has introduced that she’ll be taking a step again from social media to concentrate on her psychological well being and private growth.
“I do know I don’t publish alot on social media, however I simply wish to allow you to guys know that I can be taking a step again from the socials to work on myself and concentrate on my psychological well being,” she stated in an Instagram publish. “My life has by no means been clean or simple. I’ve carried a heavy weight on my again for fairly a while and it has weighed me down bodily, mentally, and emotionally, so many issues and other people have tried to crush and break me. I now not wish to run, however combat and heal. I refuse to be defeated by this weight, i refuse to be hardened by this weight. I wish to really feel gentle and blissful once more.”
The previous Crew USA participant concluded the publish by saying, “I wish to be the very best illustration for all of you and be the very best model of myself.”
Douglas went on to thank her followers, ship her love, and encourage them to take time of for themselves too.
In her caption, she wrote what learn like a poem, “Generally/we fall/we break/we fail/however then/we heal/we rise/we overcome.”
Douglas has had her justifiable share of challenges, similar to coming ahead to say she was sexually abused by Larry Nassar again in 2017 and enduring social media bullying for every part below the solar. She has been criticized for a variety of issues together with the looks of her hair, not smiling whereas watching her teammates, and never placing her hand over her coronary heart in the course of the Nationwide Anthem.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist stopped coaching in 2016. Whereas she by no means publicly acknowledged she was retiring, she hasn’t competed because the 2016 Video games in Rio de Janeiro. She lately posted an edited video of one in every of her performances alongside a heartfelt caption about her profession as a gymnast.
“I do know i don’t publish so much about gymnastics, however i’ve my causes💔,” she wrote. “Behind the scenes there have been so many egregious issues that i went by way of on the highway to my 2nd video games. I went by way of hell x2 and that i misplaced my pleasure, i misplaced my ardour, my fireplace, my love, after which myself. There are nonetheless so many issues which were left in the dead of night. Hidden.”
Douglas added, “My solely objective in life is to assist and encourage 🖤 and my solely want is that folks will solely unfold love bc you by no means know what somebody goes by way of that you just can’t see.”
For the document, Douglas is the primary African-American gymnast in Olympic historical past to turn into the person all-around champion. Within the meantime she has made some visitor appearances, together with competing in Season 1 of the Masked Dancer in 2021, which she gained.
