Gabby Douglas tells Oprah Winfrey of bullying, racism [Video]

August 27, 2012|By Chuck Schilken

<p>Gabby Douglas faced a tough road on her way to becoming America's sweetheart and a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's gymnastics team.</p><p>The fact that she moved away from her family in Virginia to train in Iowa at age 14 became well known during the London Games. But Douglas and her mother, Natalie Hawkins, revealed to Oprah Winfrey on Sunday's episode of "Oprah's Next Chapter" on OWN that there was another reason she wanted to leave her home gym in Virginia Beach.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "home gym team gold performance enhancer";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33429577&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=33429577&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>"I felt [I was] being bullied," said Douglas, who won the all-around gold medal as well as team gold in London.</p><p>Hawkins told Winfrey that Douglas started asking to move away at age 11 and even discussed leaving the sport at age 14.</p><p>"She said, 'I'd rather quit. If I can't move and train and get another coach, I'd rather quit the sport' " Hawkins said.</p><p>Douglas said some of the bullying was racial in nature, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/gabby-douglas-called-slave-oprahs-next-chapter-video_n_1832709.html">describing</a> one incident involving the scraping of the bars in the gym. "They're like, 'Why doesn't Gabby do it? She's our slave."</p><p>She added: ""I definitely felt isolated. I felt, 'Why am I deserving this? Is it because I'm black?' Those thoughts would go through my mind."</p><p>Of course, there were plenty of uplifting moments on the episode as well, including a fun <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oie1sZyDWNw">segment</a> with Douglas, her mother, siblings and grandfather.</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-roger-clemens-comeback-20120825,0,1472865.story">Roger Clemens looks good in return . . . next stop </a><a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/major-league-baseball-T15007055.topic">MLB</a>?</p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-lance-armstrong-marathon-20120825,0,232311.story">Lance Armstrong skips marathon during a long weekend</a><strong><br /></strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-paralympics-boosting-20120827,0,4059980.story">Paralympics: Some athletes use pain as performance enhancer</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "home gym team gold performance enhancer";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,9488961041,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="600x125"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "wide_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33429577&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=33429577&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-second-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"></div><div id="mod-sm-badge-bottom" class="mod-latarticlessocialmedia mod-socialmedia"><div id="mod-sm-badge-bottom-defer"><script type="text/javascript">/* Javascript deferred */</script></div><div id="fb-root"></div><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style" id="mod-sm-badge-bottom-defer_addthis" style="display:none;"><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_options = "digg, twitter, facebook, stumbleupon, delicious, friendfeed, buzz, slashdot, reddit, mixx, fark, linkedin, aim, google, myspace, newsvine, technorati, tumblr, typepad, wordpress, more";var addthis_exclude = "print";var addthis_pub = "archivedigger";</script><a class="pmPrint" title="Print" href="/print/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827"><span class="pmPrintIcon"></span></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script></div></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.gigya.com/js/socialize.js?apiKey=2_COh26GgfZDptreu0iQ9aknzT_Ig861qYxOHZVxizrZMTn81vygTB-ptN33wgCtrj"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function fixDoubleButtons() { if (jQuery('#mod-sm-badge-top .st_pm_button .stButton').size() == 0) { setTimeout('fixDoubleButtons();', 500); return; } var query = '#mod-sm-badge-top .shareThisEmailIcon .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-top .shareThisShareThisCompact .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-bottom .shareThisEmailIcon .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); query = '#mod-sm-badge-bottom .shareThisShareThisCompact .st_pm_button .stButton'; if (jQuery(query).size() == 2) jQuery(query + ':eq(1)').remove(); } </script> <script type='text/javascript'> function removeCommentsButton() { if (jQuery('.comments-container .comments-counter').size() == 0) { setTimeout('removeCommentsButton();', 500); return; } jQuery('.comments-container').empty(); jQuery('.comments-container').remove(); } removeCommentsButton(); </script><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-featured-title" class="mod-latarticlestext mod-text">FEATURED</div><div id="mod-article-image-lt" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/may/17/nation/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517"><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-4fb56bea/turbine/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517-001/600" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/may/17/nation/la-na-nn-skechers-20120517"><h2>Skechers lawsuit: How to get your piece of the $40-million payout</h2></a></div></div></div><div id="mod-article-image-ct" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/sep/26/business/la-fi-tn-iphone-5-lost-stolen-track-20120926"><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50633362/turbine/la-fi-tn-track-iphone-5-20120926-001/600" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/sep/26/business/la-fi-tn-iphone-5-lost-stolen-track-20120926"><h2>How to find your lost or stolen iPhone 5</h2></a></div></div></div><div id="mod-article-image-rt" style="float:left;" class="mod-featuredimage tplmodulefeaturedimage mod-homepageimage mod-articleimage"><div class="photowrapper"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/jul/28/sports/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728"><img src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50146761/turbine/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728-001/600" onerror="pm_imageFailedFeatured(this);" ></a></div><div class="text-area"><div class="title"><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles_image', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827'); return false;" href="/2012/jul/28/sports/la-sp-sn-nascar-danica-patrick-20120728"><h2>Hard crash ends Danica Patrick's NASCAR race at Indianapolis</h2></a></div></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-featured-more" class="mod-latarticlestext mod-text">MORE:</div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-hp-article-list" class="mod-latarticlesarticles mod-articles"><div class="article"><div class="title"><h2><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827');return false;" title="Top 10 cars: best gas mileage, lowest sticker price" href="/2013/mar/12/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-edmunds-lowest-cost-mpg-cars-fuel-20130220">Top 10 cars: best gas mileage, lowest sticker price</a></h2></div></div><div class="article"><div class="title"><h2><a onClick="parent.recordOutboundLink(this, 'ap-LA12-G02 more_articles', 'http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/sports/la-sp-sn-gabby-douglas-oprah-20120827');return false;" title="Judge again rejects limits on emergency contraception" href="/2013/may/11/science/la-sci-plan-b-20130511">Judge again rejects limits on emergency contraception</a></h2></div></div></div></div><div id="area-left" class="area"><div id="mod-left-sky" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "home gym team gold performance enhancer";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,2508893692,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text,image,flash,html"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="4"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33429577&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=33429577&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=left-sky", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt" class="mod-latarticlesadopenx mod-adopenx mod-adblock"><div><div class="ad_header">Advertisement</div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-defer"> <iframe name="openxi-339767" src="about:blank" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="300" height="250">