Gabby Douglas Speaks Out on Bullying Amid Simone Biles Comparisons

Gabby Douglas has responded to a viral TikTok video claiming she was forgotten amid the growing attention surrounding Simone Biles. The video, posted by user @legacy.jai on July 31, stated that Douglas was dropped like a bad habit when Biles came on the scene.

What happened?

Gabby Douglas took to the comments section to respond on August 7, writing that constantly being bullied is tiring and wearing on her. She expressed her desire to live her life and be at peace, thanking the user for the love.

Why it matters for Gabby Douglas

Douglas and Biles competed together in the 2016 Rio Olympics, helping Team USA win an all-around gold medal. The 28-year-old Douglas did not compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and suffered a foot injury ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier.

What comes next?

Douglas announced on June 2 that she would not be able to continue her 2024 journey due to the foot injury, but did not rule out competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Biles, on the other hand, cemented her title as the most decorated gymnast of all time at the Paris Olympics, leaving with four new medals and a total of 11. And Douglas has not given up on her gymnastics career, with her stating that this may be the end of this chapter but not the end of her gymnastics story. But Biles has also not ruled out competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, telling Hoda Kotb on August 6 that she would relax and see where life takes her. So the future of these two gymnasts remains uncertain, with both Douglas and Biles considering their options for the next Olympics. Douglas's foot injury prevented her from competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier, with the injury occurring during practice. The injury was a setback for Douglas, who had been working towards competing in the 2024 Olympics. But she remains positive, with her stating that she just wants to live her life and be at peace. And Biles's success at the Paris Olympics has cemented her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, with her winning four new medals and bringing her total to 11. Douglas and Biles have a long history of competing together, with the two gymnasts helping Team USA win an all-around gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The two gymnasts have also been compared frequently, with some fans pitting them against each other. But Douglas has stated that she is tired of being bullied and compared to Biles, with her expressing her desire to be left alone. And the viral TikTok video that sparked Douglas's response has highlighted the issue of bullying in the gymnastics community. The video, which was posted on July 31, stated that Douglas was forgotten amid the growing attention surrounding Biles. But Douglas has proven that she is still a talented gymnast, with her competing in several events despite her foot injury. And her determination to continue her gymnastics career is admirable, with her stating that she will not give up on her dreams.