“Everyone has hiccups in their families,” Gabby Douglas said in an interview with People Magazine, when asked about her absent father. The 16 year-old gymnast, who made history at the 2012 Olympics by winning the Team and All-Around gold medal, is opening up about those hiccups in a new book, Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith.
The memoir will include her thoughts on her broken relationship with dad, Timothy Douglas, an Air National guardsman. Gabby has always credited her mom with raising her as a single mother and nurturing her dreams of one day becoming an Olympian. Though her Dad wasn’t always present, he showed his support during the Olympic games, cheering Gabby on from the stands.
But after the games were over, he disappointed Gabby once again. She received a text from him, asking for her “to autograph some things for me.” It brought her to tears.
Gabby told People she wants an apology from her father, and I truly do hope she gets it. But it’s more important that she forgive him to find her own inner peace and that she doesn’t let a “hiccup” take away from this incredible time in her life.
