In 2012 Gabby Douglas made history, becoming the first African-American woman to win an all-around Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.
Tomorrow Lifetime is kicking off Black History Month with the premiere of The Gabby Douglas Story, the biopic about two-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas.
Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the movie details the inspiring true story of the international gymnastics phenomenon, who overcame overwhelming odds including homelessness and being diagnosed with a rare blood disease, to become the first African-American ever to be named individual all-round champion in artistic gymnastics at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The real-life Gabby Douglas will appear in the film, which also stars Regina King and S. Epatha Merkerson.
In an interview with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon, Gabby talked about her road to the Olympics and opened up about almost walking away from gymnastics just six months before the 2012 Olympic trials.
The 18-year-old gymnast says it was her mother, who used Beyoncé’s work ethic as an example, that inspired Gabby to not give up and ultimately led her to a gold medal.
The Gabby Douglas Story premieres Saturday, February 1 on Lifetime at 8/7c.
Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC
Gabby Douglas: ‘Beyoncé inspired me to not quit gymnastics’ is on Liberal Video.
