The Gabby Douglas Story Page #2

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Ooh!

What did she break now? I swear,

that child is gonna drive me crazy.

You should put her

in gymnastics class.

Who? Brie?

No, I always saw you as the gym star.

The leotards on and your hair in a

cute bun. We just couldn't afford it.

Mom, I've taught Brie everything I know.

She just eats it up.

Remember when I tried back

handsprings when I was nine?

Yeah, and I remember you

broke both of your wrists.

Brie's already doing them.

Mom! Look!

Whoa!

Ooh!

Sorry, Mom!

You should put her in gymnastics

class so she can learn the right way

before she hurts herself.

Okay, now hit the handstand.

You finally get here,

and now you want to be shy?

It wasn't that.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Imagine all your Christmases

rolled into one moment.

That's what it was like.

And I knew right then I was exactly

where I was supposed to be.

Gabrielle!

Brie!

Brie, get back here!

She yours?

Uh... Yeah. I'm sorry.

We're here to sign up

for the Saturday rec class.

Yeah, I don't think so.

She's just a little excited.

That's all.

Oh. No, no, no.

What I mean is... I'm sorry. Mrs...

Hawkins. Natalie.

Natalie, hi. Dirk.

No, rec class is just tumbling.

It's for beginners.

How much training has she had?

None, unless you want to count climbing on

all the furniture and breaking half of it.

None?

Wow.

TOPs for six months, then Dev.

That's what I was thinking.

Elite in five years.

Mom, look!

What's her name?

Uh, Gabrielle Douglas.

Gabby Douglas.

Here's your lunch.

I want you to eat it all this time,

not just the snacks.

Coach said if I do good in TOPs,

I'll get invited to training camp.

Well. "If I do well."

Mom, training camp is with the Karolyis.

Mary Lou Retton's coach,

Bela Karolyi!

Okay, okay. But, listen, Breezy,

I want you to eat all your lunch.

How are you gonna get strong

if you don't eat all your lunch?

Here you go.

Are you coming?

Have I ever missed a competition?

Is John gonna be there?

John has basketball practice,

Arie has cheer practice, and Joy has

an ice-skating lesson in half an hour.

I got to get them there.

See you!

Love you, Mom! Bye!

I love you, too, Breezy!

Never seen a lady

in a robe before?

Yeah, I don't

think this prescription

is working any better

than the last one.

Yeah, the migraines

are getting worse.

Yeah. Nauseous,

light-sensitive.

I feel like one

is coming on now.

Oh. More sleep?

With four kids?

That's not gonna happen.

You got to concentrate.

This is one of the most

important skills in gymnastics.

Why? Because the kip involves coordination,

timing, and strength.

Now, some of you are

having problems with it,

but you'll get there.

Unless you're too short.

As long as you focus

on the fundamentals

and do your drills.

I want to see that...

Mom told me life wasn't

always gonna be a day at the beach.

She said I should let her know

if anyone said mean things.

But it all starts

with concentration.

Lucy, show us how it's done.

Okay. All right.

You need to work on that upper body.

Strong finish.

Gabby, you're up.

But I didn't tell my mom.

I had my own way.

Yes! Perfect.

Now, that's the kip.

So, again, if y'all don't have

what it takes to master the kip,

you don't have what it

takes to be a gymnast.

So explain this to me again.

You're charging the kids money

to watch Gabrielle do what?

Tricks, flips and cartwheels.

You can't take

their lunch money!

We're not taking it.

They're giving it to us.

I got $2 for a back walkover.

I don't care. Tomorrow,

you take this back,

and you give them

every penny back.

What?

Mom!

No, it's not open

for discussion.

I need to lie down.

What's happening now?

Her lights are still off.

I think she's crying.

It's my fault for

taking the money.

No, it's not.

Is too!

Mom said she couldn't afford

to send me to gym camp.

John and I were gonna raise the

money ourselves, and now...

Hey. It's not your fault.

Mom isn't feeling well.

It doesn't have anything

to do with you.

Besides, if you need money,

Joy and I will give

up our sports.

John, are they tricking me?

You got a talent, Brie.

We all see that.

You've got to start

seeing it, too.

You could be the best.

She's like me, Mom.

Yes, she is.

Are you gonna be a superstar like her,

too?

Yeah?

Yeah.

Well, don't you worry.

I am gonna find the money

to get you to that camp.

Let Mary Lou Retton's coaches

see the next superstar.

Are you sick, Mom?

Mmm.

I'm as tough as nails.

Don't you worry

about me. All right?

Now, you go to sleep,

'cause the world is waiting

for you in the morning.

Good night, sweetheart.

Good night, Mom.

Time went by.

Mom liked us all to have focus and goals,

so she liked that the stronger I got,

the harder I worked to get even stronger.

As long as today was better than yesterday,

we were all doing okay.

Well, I mean, she's got the drive,

and she's getting noticed.

The next step is to get her

qualified for Junior Elite.

Junior Elite?

Yeah, she'd be in a higher level

and training for harder skills,

more competitions.

Britney's a Junior Elite.

Britney's dad runs a bank.

Well, I mean,

if you're serious about the sport...

What I'm serious about is that my

kids have something to believe in.

Well, perfect. Then we'll get

her qualified for Junior Elite.

You'll be on the

road a lot more.

Probably have to homeschool her.

Homeschool?

Yeah. Mmm-hmm.

93, 94, 95, 96, 97...

Coach! How am I supposed

to concentrate here?

...98, 99,100! 101,102...

A 14.350 for Gabby Davis, uh...

Douglas, rather,

the newcomer out of Virginia Beach.

Yes! Way to go,

Gabrielle!

Gabby Douglas continues to impress.

That's my girl.

And here comes Shawn Johnson,

and you can hear the audience reaction.

They love her.

Hardest vault

in the competition.

And dead-on!

And she is one

happy camper right now.

That's gonna be you

out there one day.

Competitions take you to exciting

places and closer to your dreams.

But they also

expose your doubts.

206. Here we go.

Wow! Breezy, you have

moved up in the world.

I suck at bars.

This is the nicest hotel

we've ever been in,

and you're too busy giving yourself a

pity party that you don't even notice.

Keep focusing on the negative,

and it'll come true.

Oh! Come look

at this view!

Mom! I came in 16th today.

I didn't make the National Team.

What if I never make

the National Team?

Not this year,

or the next year, or the next?

Do you think before she won Shawn

Johnson never had a bad day?

Well, I promise you, she did.

How do you know?

Because, sweetie,

anyone who's ever reached for something,

they've had a bad day.

Gabrielle, you are 12 years old.

Look around you.

Look at this place we're staying in.

You're at

a national competition.

But you know what?

If you're not having any fun,

let's forget about this,

go home,

sell your leos on eBay.

No!

Well, it doesn't look

like you're having any fun.

There you go.

So, what do you think?

A hotel like this probably

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