Gym Denies Gabby Douglas Claims Of Bullying, Racist 'Slave' Remark
Aug. 28 2012, Published 8:00 a.m. ET
Officials with the Virginia Beach facility Gabby Douglas trained at denied claims the gold medalist made in a televised interview that she was bullied and subjected to racist comments, spurring her move to train in West Des Moines, Iowa with a different coach.
In the chat, Gabby said that in one instance, “One of my teammates was like, ‘Could you scrape the bar?’ And they were like, ‘Why doesn’t Gabby do it, she’s our slave?’”
Calling Gabby's accusations "just sickening," Excalibur gym's Randy Stageburg told industry website Gymnewstics.com that "Gabby was never a victim, in fact, many would say she was one of the favorites.
"I never once heard her complain about girls being mean," Stageburg said. "Funny how it is just now coming up."
Excalibur CEO Gustavo Maure asked, "Is Gabrielle a credible person just because she is an Olympic Champion?
"She is not giving any names or dates, leading us to believe that the accusation is fake," Maure told E! in a statement. "This wouldn't be the first time that the media has made up a story. Thousands of gymnasts and families have supported our good conduct and our professionalism during the last 30 years."
Also in the chat, he now-wealthy 16-year-old said she "felt being bullied and isolated from the group"
"They treated me, not how they treated their other teammates … I definitely felt isolated, I felt, 'Why am I deserving this? Is it because I'm black?'"
RELATED STORIES:
Lauren Scruggs Breaks Silence On Today, Gabby Douglas Surprises With Cameo
Gabby Douglas Wins All-Around Gold in Women's Gymnastics
Olympic Gymnast Gabby Douglas' Triumph Over Tears After Dad Recently Arrested
Family Heartache Behind Gabby Douglas' Olympic Golds, 'My Dad Left Us'
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
