Gabby Douglas made Olympic history this week when she struck gold twice in one week, winning a medal in the women's individual all-around competition – and a gold medal in the team competition.
Gabby, 16, a Virginia Beach, Va., native, is the first African-American all-around champion in Olympic history, which is tagged as of the marquis events of the games – and for which some past winners have been remembered for decades.
Gabby, who was flashing her infectious smile, said in a broadcast interview on Friday that she could barely sleep Thursday night after winning.
"You are saying to yourself to go out and represent as best as you can and it was definitely an amazing feeling," she said. "It's so meaningful to be the first African-American to win the all-around gold medal . . . [and] making the history books is definitely one of the perks."
Among the millions who have lavished praise on Gabby are President Obama –who she said invited her to the White House – and Oprah Winfrey, who posted on Twitter Thursday, "OMG I'm so THRILLED for Gabby. Flowing happy tears!!"
Now that she has become a household name, Gabby has also been targeted for numerous endorsements. They include her image on the front of a Kellogg's Corn Flakes box.
