Advertisement

Gabby Douglas' historic win at 2012 London Olympics: The Makings of Greatness

yahoo sports staff
  • <p>A then 16-year-old Gabby Douglas led the ‘Fierce Five’ U.S. women’s gymnastics team through the team final at the London Olympics on July 31, 2012. (Matt Dunham/AP) </p>
    1/11

    London 2012 team final

    A then 16-year-old Gabby Douglas led the ‘Fierce Five’ U.S. women’s gymnastics team through the team final at the London Olympics on July 31, 2012. (Matt Dunham/AP)

  • <p>Nicknamed the ‘Flying Squirrel,’ Gabby Douglas performs on the vault during the women’s gymnastics team final at the 2012 London Games. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) </p>
    2/11

    Gabby Douglas on the vault

    Nicknamed the ‘Flying Squirrel,’ Gabby Douglas performs on the vault during the women’s gymnastics team final at the 2012 London Games. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

  • <p>Gabby Douglas was the only gymnast on Team USA to compete in all four disciplines. (Mike Blake/Reuters) </p>
    3/11

    Gabrielle Douglas on the bars

    Gabby Douglas was the only gymnast on Team USA to compete in all four disciplines. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

  • <p>McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Jenny Zhang of Team USA celebrate during the final rotation in the team final on July 31, 2012 in London. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
    4/11

    Celebrating Team USA gold

    McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Jenny Zhang of Team USA celebrate during the final rotation in the team final on July 31, 2012 in London. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • <p>Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman and Kyla Ross on the podium during the medal ceremony after winning the gold medal during the women’s team final. (Christopher Morris/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    5/11

    Gold for Team USA

    Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman and Kyla Ross on the podium during the medal ceremony after winning the gold medal during the women’s team final. (Christopher Morris/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>Douglas soared over the balance beam apparatus during her gold medal performance in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around finals on August 2, 2012. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images) </p>
    6/11

    Gabby Douglas on the beam

    Douglas soared over the balance beam apparatus during her gold medal performance in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around finals on August 2, 2012. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images)

  • <p>Douglas performs the floor exercise in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Individual All-Around final at the 2012 London Games. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) </p>
    7/11

    Gabby Douglas on the floor

    Douglas performs the floor exercise in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Individual All-Around final at the 2012 London Games. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

  • <p>Gabrielle Douglas performs on the asymmetric bars during the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final. (Mike Blake/Reuters) </p>
    8/11

    Gabby Douglas goes for gold

    Gabrielle Douglas performs on the asymmetric bars during the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

  • <p>Douglas is held by coach Liang Chow (L) as she reacts to the result of the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final on August 2, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) </p>
    9/11

    Checking the scores

    Douglas is held by coach Liang Chow (L) as she reacts to the result of the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final on August 2, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

  • <p>Douglas celebrates winning the gold medal with coach Liang Chow and team coordinator Martha Karolyi after the individual all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) </p>
    10/11

    Gabby Douglas with her gold medal

    Douglas celebrates winning the gold medal with coach Liang Chow and team coordinator Martha Karolyi after the individual all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

  • <p>Douglas became the first woman of color to win the women’s all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) </p>
    11/11

    Golden girl Gabby Douglas

    Douglas became the first woman of color to win the women’s all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

<p>A then 16-year-old Gabby Douglas led the ‘Fierce Five’ U.S. women’s gymnastics team through the team final at the London Olympics on July 31, 2012. (Matt Dunham/AP) </p>
<p>Nicknamed the ‘Flying Squirrel,’ Gabby Douglas performs on the vault during the women’s gymnastics team final at the 2012 London Games. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) </p>
<p>Gabby Douglas was the only gymnast on Team USA to compete in all four disciplines. (Mike Blake/Reuters) </p>
<p>McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas and Jenny Zhang of Team USA celebrate during the final rotation in the team final on July 31, 2012 in London. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman and Kyla Ross on the podium during the medal ceremony after winning the gold medal during the women’s team final. (Christopher Morris/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Douglas soared over the balance beam apparatus during her gold medal performance in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around finals on August 2, 2012. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Douglas performs the floor exercise in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Individual All-Around final at the 2012 London Games. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Gabrielle Douglas performs on the asymmetric bars during the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final. (Mike Blake/Reuters) </p>
<p>Douglas is held by coach Liang Chow (L) as she reacts to the result of the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final on August 2, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) </p>
<p>Douglas celebrates winning the gold medal with coach Liang Chow and team coordinator Martha Karolyi after the individual all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Douglas became the first woman of color to win the women’s all-around final. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) </p>

It has been four years since Gabby Douglas made history at the 2012 London Olympics by becoming the first American gymnast to win both the team and individual all-around gold medals at the same Olympics. Take a look back at her memorable performance in London before she goes for another gold in Rio.