In her highly anticipated comeback to competitive gymnastics, Gabby Douglas displayed an impressive return on April 27th, day 2 of the American Classic. The gymnast signaled her potential to compete at the highest level. However, despite showcasing difficult skills, she made significant mistakes that indicate the need for improvement in the coming months before she enters Paris.
At the American Classic in Katy, Tex., Douglas amazed with a powerful double-twisting vault after an eight-year hiatus from competition. Although her bars and beam performances rivaled those of top Americans in difficulty, she struggled with falls on the floor, resulting in a modest all-around score of 50.650 and an 11th-place finish, which raised concern for her spot in the Olympics 2024. But here’s relief.
Following this news, a recent update from Gymnastics Now on April 28th brings hope as Douglas qualifies for nationals. A new post from Gymnastics now reads, “Gabby Douglas is going to nationals – on at least two events! She qualifies after putting up a 14.000 on the vault and 13.350 on the beam. She finishes her first elite competition back since the 2016 Rio Olympics with a 50.650. If she gets a 51 in the all-around at the Core Hydration Classic, she’ll qualify on all four. Otherwise, she should be able to petition.”
The American Classic, though not a gathering of all top gymnasts, offers a sneak peek into athletes’ readiness. Next month, the elite season heats up, starting with the U.S. Classic on May 18 in Hartford, Conn. This will be a bigger test for Gabby Douglas and other stars like Simone Biles, who are set to compete in the national championships and the Olympic trials. Despite its smaller scale, Saturday’s scores gave us an idea of where gymnasts stand and have areas for improvement.