’ improbable bid for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics officially came to an end on Wednesday, May 29, when the gymnast withdrew from the U.S. gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
Douglas, 28, cited an ankle injury as the reason she would be unable to vie to become the oldest U.S. gymnast to compete in the Olympics since 1952.
“I love this sport and I love pushing my limits,” 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 event was her last chance to earn an invitation to the Olympic trials in Minneapolis next month.
She last competed in the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and in 2012, she became the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title in London. Douglas announced in February that she would be . She explained her decision , writing, “Wow guys, what a journey so far.
it’s had its ups and downs, but i’m not done pushing the boundaries. i’m determined to make every moment count! SO happy to get back out on the competition floor and enjoy this sport that i fell in love with as a little girl. here’s to never giving up on our dreams.
let’s do this.” At the time, Douglas stressed the importance of representing the United States on the sport’s biggest stage. “I would just love to go back out there and represent USA one more time and just to have that feeling of being a part of something, being a part of a t.