Still The Same Gabby

“I’ve always relied on my faith,” Gabby explains. “Every time I watch the footage from the Olympics, I can see my lips. They’re moving because I’m praying. It’s always been a part of me. I’ve always used it during training and competitions.” Gabrielle Douglas, two-time Olympic medallist, remembers the seconds before her historic performance at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Thousands of spectators in London’s North Greenwich Arena, and millions around the world watched as 16-year-old Gabby stand at the corner of the mat ready to perform her routine. As she prepared herself, she remembered her mother’s encouragement just months before. Gabby was prepared to walk away from it all, but her mother, Natalie Hawkins, reminded her that she was living her dream. Quitting would mean she would never get this moment back.

For two years, Gabby was thousands of miles away from her family. While she was training for this very moment, there were hurtful criticisms and personal attacks stirring in the media from insensitive onlookers. The weight of loneliness was starting to feel too heavy to bear. But, on the edge of a historical performance, what came to Gabby’s mind was prophecy spoken by Kenneth Copeland:

It’s going to be a year of great joy for those who know joy…It’ll be a time of marvellous breakthroughs. This is a time of victory. It’s a time when people begin to realise that My WORD is a living WORD, that My Spirit is the living Spirit, and that you are My voice in the earth. And your voice is the voice of victory!”

Triple Honours

At the 2012 London Olympics, Gabby Douglas made history as the first African-American gymnast to become the individual all-round champion; the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-round and team competitions at the same Olympics; and the only American all-round champion to win multiple gold medals.

In her final performance, at the biggest sporting event of the world, the anointed words of a Prophet were on her mind and in her heart. Gabby captivated the crowd as she flipped and twisted her way through a near-perfect floor routine. Coming off the mat to a roaring crowd, a victorious Gabby looked to the scoreboard for an overall score of 62.232 beating out Russia’s Victoria Komova who scored three-tenths less than Gabby.

As Gabby stood humbly on the top podium to accept her medal she couldn’t help but remember a realisation she had just a month before. The hardest part of her journey was making the American Olympic team. After the gruelling Olympic trials in San Jose, California, she was relieved when she was given the invitation to join the American team. She didn’t fully realise its significance until she stepped onto the Olympic floor. Gabby looked around to see Olympic ring signs everywhere, and she thought: “wow, God really does have a plan for me!”

A Faith Legacy

Gabby returned home from the Olympics to the fanfare of brand deals, high profile celebrity endorsements, and Presidential recognition. She knew she was still the same Gabby from a family, who for years, suffered through extreme poverty. Having a family who made sacrifices in faith, Gabby’s foundations were firmly placed on The Word.

Growing up in Richardson, Texas, Gabby was a part of the Superkid Academy, the children’s ministry at Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Her family were members of the Eagle Mountain International Church. Gabby watched Commander Kellie lead the Superkids to victory by activating faith and putting it to action. This is how her mother taught her to respond; a foundation Gabby was firmly planted in during physical and mental exhaustion at the 2012 London Olympics.

In 2014, along with her mum and sisters, Gabby returned to Texas and KCM, where she met Kenneth Copeland. She took the opportunity to share with him the impact the prophetic word he spoke, had on her life. She showed Brother Copeland her copy of the prophecy, pointing out the underlined sections that pertained to her. “It’s one of the few times I’ve seen Gabrielle speechless,” her mother Natalie said, “but she was so honoured to be in his presence. We even took pictures of Brother Copeland holding her gold medals.”

Through every competition, and challenging emotional trial, Gabby claimed Jeremiah 29:11, confessing: “God knows what He’s doing, and I know He has a plan in store for me. There’s something greater. His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. His ways are higher than my ways.” Through it all, Gabby remains mindful of the fact that, as a role model, she must continue to reflect the strong values that have kept her grounded on this incredible journey, and the power of remaining steadfast in faith!

Read more of two-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Gabrielle Douglas.

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