If Douglas wins the Olympic all-around title, she would become not just the first African American to do it but the first person of African descent of any kind to do so.
BUT THE QUESTION IS...WILL SHE GET THE SAME DEAL AND TREATMENT AS THE OTHER AMERICAN OLYMPIC ALL-AROUND GOLD MEDAL WINNERS???
Little bit of history -
There's only been 3 American All Around Gold medalists. Mary Lou Retton in 1984, Carly Patterson in 2004 and Nastia Luikin in 2008.
Normally and historically the Soviets/Eastern Europeans dominate the event. Which is why even though Mary Lou Retton was the first American to win the event she did it the year the Russians boycotted the Olympic games held in Los Angeles in retaliation for the US boycotting the games held in Moscow in 1980. So Retton's achievement has an asterisk next to it since she didn't have to compete against what would have been stiff competition that year.
But for her achievement Retton became the face of not just female gymnastics in America but the Olympic games. She was immediately portrayed as "America's sweetheart" and was the first woman on the Wheaties box and had endorsements coming out of her ears.
The United States wouldn't see another All Around Champ until 20 years later (the Russians/East Europeans took all the titles in between) when Carly Patterson won it at the games in Athens. Carly's achievement is actually unique to Retton because unlike Retton she competed with the Russians and beat them.
She too became "America's Sweetheart" and was rewarded with multiple endorsements and became the face of American female Gymnastics.
Nastia Luikin wasn't supposed to win the All Around in 2008. That year was touted as the era of Shawn Johnson. If you paid even cursory attention to female gymnastics around that time all you heard and saw was Shawn Johnson this and Shawn Johnson that. The media and sports governing bodies had already pegged her to be the "Sweetheart" and face of the sport. But she choked in the prelimaries and Nastia Luikin grabbed the gold medal.
But it was just as well since Nastia is a blonde pretty white woman so there were no major adjustments to make other than changing the name and picture on the endorsment labels.
But THIS year is COMPLETELY different...
This year was SUPPOSED to be the era of Jordyn Weiber. Even though Nastia was making a bid to repeat in these games, it was clear she had lost the Eye of the Tiger during the Olympic trials and she flubbed horribly on the uneven bars.
And Weiber was seen as the heir apparent regardless. As with Shawn Johnson, the media and sport elites had designated her the "It Girl" of American gymnastics. All she had to do was bring home the medal.
But by the end of the preliminaries Gabby Douglas had the highest score of the top three competitors with Weiber in second and Aly Reisman a VERY close third. With the pressure clearly mounting all Weiber had to do was have a clean Floor Exercise routine and she would have been a lock. But she faulted by stepping out of bound (so did Gabby but her lead was large enough to pad the deductions). That left a small crack of daylight for Reisman who completed her routine without fault. And since only two athletes can represent their country in the event, when the smoke cleared the only two left standing were Douglas and Reisman. And between those two, Gabby Douglas is universally seen as the stronger gymnast.
And suddenly the whole world changes. With Weiber eliminated, the opportunity has opened up for a NEW "It Girl"/America's Sweetheart/Face of American Female Gymnastics.
But Gabby isn't some pretty little white girl from Nowheresville, Kentucky with all the cornfed, typical middle american caucasian features we're all used to seeing.
And she's not a lightskin black with the frizzy hair they always cast in commercials.
Gabby is a SISTA with classic African American features. Chocolate brown skin, high cheekbones, broad nose, and thick lips that curl into a big warm smile.
If Gabby does great win the All Around finals...WILL SHE GET THE SAME DEAL AND TREATMENT AS THE OTHER AMERICAN OLYMPIC ALL-AROUND GOLD MEDAL WINNERS?
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