Olympic Gymnast Gabby Douglas' Triumph Over Tears After Dad Recently Arrested
Aug. 8 2012, Published 1:30 p.m. ET
The broken home of Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Gabrielle 'Gabby' Douglas has been a hot topic for the past week in London, and the new issue of the National Enquirer has exclusive details on how her father's recent arrest rocked the family.
“There were many issues in the family household as Gabby grew up, and she learned to push those problems to the back of her mind so they wouldn’t be a distraction and affect her performances,” a family insider told the Enquirer.
Nicknamed the 'Flying Squirrel,' one of the hurdles the 16-year-old from Virginia Beach overcame was the breakup of her parents’ marriage -- mom Natalie Hawkins filed for divorce from her father Timothy Douglas -- but he left the family years earlier to serve abroad with the Air Force when she was nine.
After Gabby, her mom, and three siblings struggled to make ends meet over the years, perhaps the most shocking blow came in February when her wayward dad was arrested, court documents obtained by the Enquirer reveal.
Timothy, who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and pleaded no contest, and while police would not provide any specific details to the Enquirer, the charge is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Attempts to reach Gabby’s father, 46, went unanswered.
Only days after her dad’s arrest, Gabby competed in the AT&T American Cup at Madison Square Garden and won the women’s all-around competition.
“It’s unclear if Gabby knew about her father’s arrest,” said a source. “If she did, it’s yet another example of the incredible character of this amazing young woman to stay focused and not let family issues destroy her dream. She’s a true hero and a true champion.”
After becoming the first African American to win the all-around Olympic gold medal in women's gymnastics, Gabby won't have to worry about money for long now that sponsors are clamoring to have her endorse their products and she could earn her up to $90 million in deals, including the cover of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
“With all she’s been through,” said the source, “It’s amazing Gabby was able to put it all aside and do as well as she did in the Olympics. Now she’ll be able to look after her family.”
For the full story, the new issue of the National Enquirer is on newsstands Thursday.
RELATED STORIES:
Friends Fear Michael Phelps’ New Girlfriend Is Using Him For Fame
Ann Curry Headed To London To Cover Olympics!
Seven Things You Didn't Know About 'The World's Fastest Man' Usain Bolt
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.
