I am not even going to go into the fact that she is the first African American to do so since President Obama has demonstrated that NOTHING is restricted by one's race these days. However I do want to say that what she did is an amazing achievement, and that coming from a single parent home, it is just that much MORE impressive.
NOBODY who has not parented a child gymnast, or been one themselves, can ever imagine how difficult their lives can be, or the kind of commitment it takes to reach even the competition level, much less an Olympic level in this sport.
As I am sure I have shared in the past I was a gymnastics coach for four and a half years and I can tell you first hand that what these young ladies, and young men, ask of their bodies on a daily basis is just this side of superhuman.
In my opinion pound for pound gymnasts are the most carefully conditioned and powerful athletes on the planet. I have trained in a number of disciplines including wrestling, football, baseball, swimming, power lifting, bodybuilding, and martial arts, and I can tell you that the MOST strenuous training I ever endured was in a little room above the gymnasium next to Dimond High's weight room where I learned gymnastics. (I STILL have injuries left over from those days.)
So all I can say is congratulations Gabby! You deserve EVERY accolade and honor you are about to receive.
P.S. I don't want to appear sexist so I also want to congratulate Danell Leyva's bronze medal victory. I am a HUGE fan of men's gymnastics but have missed almost all of it due to NBC's bizarre and spotty coverage.
