Gabby Douglas, the first African American to win gold at the Olympics in the all-around competition, has landed on a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.. and on the TODAY Show. Watch the clip inside and see Gabby's cereal box cover.
Gabby Douglas, who won the Olympic women's all-around on Thursday, appears on the latest edition of Kellogg's Corn Flakes boxes. USA Gymnastics today posted photos of her holding the box.
And earlier today, Douglas appeared on the Today Show with her mom, sister, brother and host family she lived with while training in Iowa. She revealed that it wasn't a pleasure trip to get to the Olympic Games--and wants people to know it took HARD WORK. She said,
“I just want people to know it took a lot. It took a lot of hard days in the gym and determination, passion and drive. Gold medals are made out of your sweat, blood and tears, and effort in the gym every day, and sacrificing a lot that you have to do.”
She added, “It’s so meaningful to be the first African-American to win the all-around gold medal in the individual and making the history books is definitely one of the perks. It just feels amazing.”
As for her her dad, Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Douglas (who's been stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq), he wasn't able to attend the London games but he did fly to California see her during the trials on June 29. She said,
"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 a while. They were holding up the flag. And I almost felt like bawling. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, Dad!"
Gabby's parents are divorcing, but they are completely united in support of their daughter. Timothy (shown above at the trials in June) said,
'We knew (gymnastics) was in her heart because one day she came home from the gym and she had a 102-degree temperature. She went to bed, slept it off and woke up and got back in the gym the next day. That’s when we knew she had a winner’s attitude, a winner’s spirit.'
Watch TODAY Show piece here:
Also, Gabby's proud mom Natalie told Us Weekly at the Olympian's photoshoot for the mag right before the Olympic Games:
"Have fun -- that's a really big thing that I always tell her. This is your sport, and you love to do it, so just go out there and enjoy it. How many other times are you going to get to compete at the Olympics? Soak up every minute of it. Push out all distractions. Fear is crippling; there's nothing to be afraid of. You've trained for this moment . . . you're going to be nervous, but let it fuel and feed your desire to go out there and get what you want."
"I absolutely have no regrets," Hawkins told Us. "I wish there was a gym closer . . . but the fact that she's joined with a coach who believes in her 100% and she believes in them 100% . . . that all means the world to me because she's happy."