It’s been a whirlwind journey for two-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas since she returned stateside after the London games.
She’s met Oprah Winfrey, first lady Michelle Obama, and appeared on a number of talk shows after capturing gold in team and individual all-around competitions — the first American woman to win both in the same Olympic Games.
Douglas’ “victory lap” included a stop to Citi Field, where she threw out the first pitch of the August 23 Mets game against the Colorado Rockies to pitcher Robert Carson as the stadium applauded her appearance.
Douglas, who was born and raised in Virginia Beach before moving to Iowa to train, also posed for pictures with fellow Virginian David Wright — who is from Norfolk.
During the fourth inning, the 16-year-old Douglas told SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt that she never saw herself becoming a celebrity and has been adjusting to becoming an inspiration.
“I never expected that,” she said. “It’s a little bit crazy.”
Earlier in the day, Douglas closed out the Citi Field Kids Program and told kids that if they wanted to accomplish something, it was all about hard work and determination.
“Champions are made through the tough and hard times,” Douglas said. “You have to put your all into what you do and you have to love it too.”
