Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas is perhaps the most famous military kid in the world right now. The 16-year-old gymnast is the daughter of Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Timothy Douglas, who's currently serving in Afghanistan with the 203rd Red Horse Squadron.
The New York Daily News reports Douglas was first deployed seven years ago, leaving Gabby's mother to raise four children on her own. Gabby's parents are now in the process of divorcing, but she remains very close to both mom and dad.
Gabby hadn't seen her father in two years when he attended the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. Gabby told the Des Moines Register:
“I’m like, ‘Who’s calling my name?’ And then I look up, it was my dad and his friend, and I haven’t seen him in awhile. They were holding up the flag. And I almost fell like bawling. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, Dad!’”
Gabby went on to win two gold medals in the London Olympics, one in team all-around, and one in individual all-around.
(To find out how Gabby performed today in her quest for gold in the uneven bars, click here.)
It goes without saying that Gabby's mother, Natalie Hawkins, played a key role in her daughter's success, too. I've posted a video up top on the relationship between Hawkins and Gabby.
