As younger U.S. teammates added to their medal haul Sunday, Gabby Douglas, the Virginia Beach native who captivated the gymnastics world in winning all-around gold at the 2012 Olympics, struggled to a disappointing and emotional finish at the Rio Games.
After finishing seventh in a field of eight in her lone individual event, the uneven bars, Douglas fought back tears when reporters’ questions about her performance turned to questions about a wide range of criticism that has been directed at her, much of it on social media: about her stance during the playing of the national anthem, her expression in the stands as Simone Biles and Aly Raisman vied for all-around honors and a perception that she has distanced herself from teammates.
Douglas said she had avoided the Internet while in Rio because of the “negativity,” which she said she didn’t understand.
“When they talk about my hair or me not putting my hand up on my heart or me being very salty in the stands, they’re really criticizing me, and it doesn’t really feel good,” Douglas said, her eyes tearing up. “It was a little bit hurtful.”
The struggles Douglas endured, both on the arena floor and in the 20-minute exchange with reporters afterward, tugged at the heart, as well.
Douglas’s post-competition interview began in a cheerful tone, even as she acknowledged that she’d come to Rio hoping to achieve more. While she contributed valuable skills to the U.S. team gold medal through her uneven-bars routine, Douglas had hoped to defend her 2012 all-around title.
But she qualified third, behind Biles and Raisman, and was barred from the all-around final by the Olympics’ two-per-country limit.
“You always want to picture yourself being on top and doing those routines and being amazing,” Douglas said. “I pictured it differently, but that’s okay because I’m just going to take this experience as a really good, positive one.”
The tenor of the interview changed when a reporter asked, “Do you think your Olympics got ruined?”
After a pause, Douglas said that it had been “an amazing, crazy — also fun experience.”
She was asked what she would have done differently this week, other than score higher. She looked puzzled, so the reporter recounted various criticism.
“Obviously I wanted to finish on a better bar routine,” Douglas said. Then she spoke of difficulties she had endured during these Games and apologized if her gestures or facial expressions had been misconstrued.
“Everything I’ve gone through has been a lot this time around,” Douglas said, “and I apologize if [I seemed] really mad in the stands. I wasn’t. I was supporting Aly. And I always will support them and respect them in everything they do. I never want anyone to take it as I was jealous or I wanted attention. Never. I support them, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t showing it.
“I’ve been through a lot,” she added. “I still love them. I still love the people who love me. Still love them who hate me. I’m just going to stand on that.”
this “lemonade” is stirring up a lot of drama.
hmmm.
okay…
see…
so the foxhole has been
well i was sent in 
he was clearly
so 
.
lets look at the average hoes most baller wolves meet.
so when this hoe 
so after a dragging i’m sure she couldn’t handle yesterday,
hmm.
.
she is doing way too much.the animals caping for her are just as worse.
what
speaking of odell beckham jr,
as an animal lover,
i don’t know why 
everyone meet 
you know what i 
i don’t like what is happening with 
between you and me,
every time i saw gabby,
you 
i guess we will have to 
well damn.
i’m 
.
.
you know 
like…
i love 
i don’t even…