US gymnastics legend Gabby Douglas will miss the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after suffering an ankle injury in training.
The three-time gold medalist sustained the injury while training for the US championships this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.
While the severity of the injury has not been disclosed, Douglas will reportedly miss the US championships – a mandatory step towards the Olympic roster.
Her absence from this weekend’s competition will eliminate her eligibility for a spot in the Olympic team, which would have been her first since the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Simone Biles and Shilese Jones are currently frontrunners to secure their roster sports. Douglas’ fellow veterans Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey are vying for Olympic berths.
Gabby Douglas is out of contention for the Summer Olympics in Paris with an ankle injury
Douglas will miss the US Championship in Fort Worth, making her ineligible for Paris
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An appearance in Paris would have made Douglas the oldest woman from the US to compete in Olympic gymnastics since the 1950s.
Nevertheless, Douglas said she’s ready to start her recovery and will train to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles games – she will be 32 then.
‘It would be such an honor to represent the US at a home Olympics,’ Douglas said.
Douglas became the first African-American Olympic individual all-around champion in 2012. Additionally, she won team golds in London and Rio. She also has two golds in the World Championships, Pacific Rim Championships, and Pan American Championships over her storied career.
‘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,’ Douglas told ESPN.