Gabby Douglas Wins Second Straight Competition Of Olympic Year

What a difference a year makes. After returning to international competition at the 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy and placing fourth, Gabby Douglas showed just how far her comeback has progressed by taking the all-around gold at the same meet on Saturday. The reigning Olympic all-around champion scored 59.65 points to win her second all-around gold in as many outings in 2016, adding the Jesolo victory to her win at the AT&T American Cup two weeks ago. Gabby trains at Buckeye Gymnastics under the direction of Head Coach Kittia Carpenter.

Aly Raisman, also a member of the 2012 squad that won the team gold medal in London, also competed at the Jesolo the past two years, finishing third last year in her comeback debut and settling for sixth this year with a score of 57.85. The two Americans are trying to earn spots on their second Olympic team, something that hasn’t been done since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, when Amy Chow and Dominique Dawes return to the Games after their gold-medal performance in Atlanta.

The United States swept the podium in Italy, with all six Americans placing in the top seven. Ragan Smith took the silver medal with a score of 59.050, while Lauren Hernandez won the bronze with a 58.550. MyKayla Skinner was fifth at 57.900 and Emily Schild was seventh, scoring 57.450