Share this @internewscast.com

Gabby Douglas, who was expected to make her return to competitive gymnastics on Saturday at the Winter Cup, announced her withdrawal from the event due to a positive Covid test.

“I was so excited to get back out on the competition floor, but unfortunately, I just tested positive for covid… I’m crushed but I’ll see you guys soon!,” Douglas said in an Instagram post on Thursday afternoon.

She was slated to compete in three of the four events on Saturday — vault, balance beam, and floor exercise — and would have faced reigning Olympic all-around champion, Sunisa Lee, in senior competition for the first time. Lee, who has been battling a kidney-related illness for the past year, is still registered for the event in Louisville, Kentucky, and plans to compete on uneven bars and beam.

Douglas announced her intention to return to competitive gymnastics at the Winter Cup on “Hallie Jackson NOW,” earlier this month.

“I didn’t want to end this sport how I did in 2016. I wanted to take a step back and work on my mental state,” she said in the interview. “I love gymnastics and love pushing myself. … I never wanted to walk away on a bad day.”

Douglas has not competed since the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she was part of the second consecutive team gold medal for the U.S. women’s team. The team win in Rio garnered Douglas her third Olympic gold medal after she won two golds at the 2012 Olympics in London: team gold and all-around gold. Douglas’ all-around title made her the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold medal.

Douglas never made an official retirement announcement after the Rio Olympics, but she did not attempt a comeback for the Tokyo games. At 28, she would have been the oldest gymnast in the competition at the Winter Cup.

If she is named to the Paris Olympic team, Douglas will be the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to make three Olympic teams. Her 2016 teammate, Simone Biles, is eyeing her third team as well.

The next major domestic competition on the road to Paris qualification is the Core Hydration Classic, which will be held in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 17 and 18.

Both the women’s and the men’s Olympic teams will be selected at the Olympic Trials this summer, which are scheduled for the end of June in Minneapolis. The gymnasts competing at the Olympic Trials will be determined four weeks earlier at the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
How the Oct 7 Hamas terror attacks exposed long-running concerns about UNRWA, new film charges

Unveiling Controversy: How Oct 7 Hamas Attacks Spotlight UNRWA’s Long-Standing Issues

EXCLUSIVE: In a significant development, Israeli bulldozers demolished structures at the UNRWA…
Gunfire, arson and vandalism: Tracking political violence in America

Escalating Political Violence in America: Analyzing the Surge in Gunfire, Arson, and Vandalism

Over the past three years, the American political landscape has been marred…
Watchdog group exposes Idaho colleges' alleged scheme to sidestep new DEI law

Idaho Colleges Under Fire: Watchdog Unveils Alleged DEI Law Evasion Tactics

An oversight group is urging Idaho’s attorney general to probe a newly…
Video shows masked robbers crash car through jewelry store entrance, steal owner's gun in brazen heist

Shocking Heist: Masked Thieves Ram Car into Jewelry Store, Seize Owner’s Gun

In a brazen daytime heist in Anaheim Hills, California, a jewelry store…
Ari Emanuel sells memoir for just over $2M

Ari Emanuel Secures $2M Deal for Highly Anticipated Memoir: A Glimpse into Hollywood’s Power Broker

Ari Emanuel, the renowned WME superagent, has secured a deal to publish…
Local Spotlight: Darvin Furniture/City of Hope

Featured Focus: Darvin Furniture Collaborates with City of Hope

CHICAGO (WLS) — A beacon of hope in cancer care, City of…
Israel announces limited reopening of Rafah Crossing under Trump’s 20-point plan

Breaking: Israel Implements Limited Rafah Crossing Reopening – What Trump’s 20-Point Plan Means for the Region

On Sunday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that…
Report: Iran's Khamenei Flees to ‘Fortified’ Bunker, Fearing U.S. Strike

Iran’s Supreme Leader Seeks Shelter: Khamenei Retreats to Secure Bunker Amid U.S. Tensions

In response to escalating speculation about a potential U.S. military action, Iranian…
Super Bowl 60: New England Patriots edge Denver Broncos to win AFC title, earn Super Bowl LX trip at Levi's Stadium

Patriots Secure AFC Crown: Thrilling Victory Over Broncos Sets Stage for Super Bowl 60 Showdown at Levi’s Stadium

DENVER — In a game marked by challenging weather, Drake Maye led…
The Book Rocking Official Washington Just Became #1 in America

Unveiling the Political Bombshell: The #1 Bestseller Captivating Washington and America

Note: The following content is sponsored by the Government Accountability Institute (GAI).…
From Knicks disaster to Clippers blowout, Nets can’t stop the bleeding

Nets Struggle to Recover After Losses to Knicks and Clippers

Wednesday saw the Brooklyn Nets struggling at Madison Square Garden, and by…
Iranian drone swarms pose 'credible threat' to USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, defense expert says

Defense Expert Warns of ‘Credible Threat’ from Iranian Drone Swarms to USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Group

U.S. military forces en route to the Middle East might encounter significant…