Name __________________________

GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
Gabrielle (Gabby) Douglas is a gymnast. She was
born on December 31, 1995 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
She has three siblings.
Gabby became interested in gymnastics when she was three, because her
older sister taught her how to do a cartwheel. She began formal
gymnastics training when she was five years old. She won her first state
championship when she was eight.

When she was fourteen, Gabby moved away from her family to train with
a well-known coach in Iowa. This was a bittersweet thing for her to do,
because she missed her family so much. In 2010, Gabby exploded onto
national gymnastics scene. She joined the United States National team and
became well-known for her ability to fly high on the uneven bars and floor
exercises. She earned the nickname “The Flying Squirrel.”

In 2012, Gabby competed at the London Olympic Games at the age of 16.
Along with her six teammates, Gabby won the team gold medal. She also
won the individual all-around gold medal. She is the first African American
woman to win an individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also
became the first female gymnast to win the gold medal in both the team
event and in the individual all-around event. In 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro
Olympics, she won the team gold medal with her teammates.

Gabby has been an inspiration to young gymnasts around the United States..
©Teaching in Stripes  
Name __________________________ GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
Directions: After you’ve read about Gabrielle Douglas, answer these questions
using information from the text. Write in complete sentences.

1 How did Gabby Douglas become interested in gymnastics?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________  

2 Why was it bittersweet when Gabby went to train in Iowa?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________  

3 How did Gabby get the nickname, “The Flying Squirrel”?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________  

4 Why is Gabrielle Douglas a champion?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________  
©Teaching in Stripes  
 GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
Name ______________________________
Directions: After you’ve read about Gabby Douglas, answer these questions using
information from the text. Highlight the answer in the text.
1.  How old was Gabby when she won her first championship?
o  five
o  three
o  eight
o  sixteen
2. Where did Gabby go to train for the national team?
o  Iowa
o  Texas
o  Virginia
o  California

3.  In which event did Gabby win an individual gold medal?

o  uneven bars
o  balance beam
o  vault
o  all-around

4.  Which two Olympic Games did Gabby Douglas compete in?
o  Beijing, 2008
o  Sydney, 2000
o  London, 2012
o  Rio de Janeiro, 2016 ©Teaching in Stripes  
 GABRIELLE DOUGLAS
Name ______________________________

What is a character trait of Gabrielle Douglas? Support your

response with at least two details from the text.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________  

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________  

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________  
©Teaching in Stripes