I’m probably the farthest thing from an athlete but I’ve been amazed by these 2012 Olympic games. I can’t swim or run fast or jump over hurdles or even balance on a balance beam, but I’m inspired by these athletes. I dig their work ethic, their competitive streak and their commitment to doing the things that they love.
So little Gabby Douglas, all 4’11” of her, has captured my attention. Her story in particular had me in awe. She’s a young gymnast who aspired to be an Olympian and persuaded her mom to let her live with a host family in Iowa (thousands of miles away from her home in Virginia) in order to train with a coach who could get her to the Olympics.
The rest is history.
I’m not sure if her mother is a young mother but I’m going to guess she is. (If she isn’t, goodness gracious she’s aging well!!!) But regardless of whether Gabby was raised by a young mother or not, she was given incredible confidence to pursue her goals and THAT is what I hope every child receives.
In this video below, Gabby’s mom, Natalie Hawkins, talks about the difficulty in letting her daughter go but the thrill of knowing she’s headed toward her destiny: