Game On: History-Making Gymnast Gabby Douglas On How She's Currently Caring For Her Body (& Training Again!)

Like many people, I was first introduced to Gabby Douglas over a decade ago, during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. That summer, the country became enamored with the "Fierce Five" who took home the team gold in women's gymnastics for the USA. 

Douglas' star-making performances and gravity-defying strength earned her another gold in the individual all-around. And in doing so, she made history: Douglas is the first African American woman to become the Olympic individual all-around champion and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics. 

I was an intern at Sports Illustrated that summer and was assigned to research all things women's gymnastics. Meticulously following Douglas' meteoric rise to gold endeared me to her—and I've followed her career since.

"I'm blushing," she said, as she laughed when I told her about our small, mostly one-sided connection. I told her it was probably just her natural glow.

Gabby Douglas: Honestly, I keep my routines pretty simple. That's been my regimen for a long time now—I don't do a lot. I don't need to because we do so much preparation in the gym leading up to [competitions]. For example, we do pressure sets, which is when everyone comes over to watch you do your set. That way, by the time you get to a competition, it feels second nature. 

Douglas: To be honest, at the end of the day, my body is just so tired. Gymnastics is very hard. For example, recently we went like 30 days straight of practice in the morning and at night. So I just feel like our bodies are naturally tired because we're waking up early in the morning for practice, then coming back later in the day for another.

Douglas: I do a lot of icing. I also do a lot with my feet. I literally grind and pound my feet so much. I love using Dr. Scholl's Callus Remover Electronic Foot File, which gets rid of all the hardness and dryness. I love having my feet very, very smooth on the beam. The chalk will dry skin out, so I love using a really hydrating foot cream, like Dr. Scholl's Dry Cracked Foot Repair Ultra-Hydrating Foot Cream because it provides moisture back into the skin and back into my feet. You see so much of our feet in gymnastics, so honestly foot care is so important. 

Douglas: It's so true—so often parents will say to me, "Hey, how can I get my daughter to be at your level?" I'm like, "No—let her enjoy it first. She's a kid."

Sometimes we [professional gymnasts] wish we could go back and start that journey again, when it is joyous and happy. When you get older is when you start thinking, Oh this is something else. 

Douglas: Don't give up. No matter if it's gymnastics or basketball, just do not give up.

Douglas: My perseverance and drive. I was always taught to never end on a bad day. So I always try to keep going and make sure I leave everything on a high note.