Gabrielle leaps athe balance beamat the 2012 Londoit^^Olympics, where shewon two gold medals.

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Vocabularyobstacles: things that get in a person's wayreunited: brought baGk togetherapparent: obvious, clear, easy to seejeopardize: to put something in dangerelite: considered the best at something

4 Scholastic Action I October 7, 2013

Gabby's Roadto Gold

This gymnastics star never gave up on Ker dreams.

Before July 2012, notmany people knew the nameGabrielle Douglas. Thencame the Olympic Games

in London.Gabby leaped,

tumbled, andflipped her way

into history. Withher teammates, she

won gold in women's teamgymnastics. Then Gabbybecame the first Afirican-American woman to win theindividual all-around goldmedal. She was 16 years old.

Soon, people all over theworld were talking aboutthis pint-size powerhouse.But few knew the hardshipsand obstacles Gabby hadovercome. Sure, learninggymnastics skills took a lot ofhard work. But some of thetoughest challenges Gabbyfaced are familiar to teenseverywhere—problems withmoney, health, bullying, andself-confidence.

I When Gabby was born,I times were tough for her8 family. At 2 months old.

she and her mom, dad, twosisters, and brother becamehomeless. They lived in acold, damp van for months.

Her parents didn't knowit, but baby Gabby had ablood disease that couldhave killed her. "I was sick,"says Gabby, "seriously sick."

Fortunately, Gabbyrecovered. But the familystill struggled.

A few years later, Gabby'sparents separated. For atime. Gabby lived apart fromher mom and sister Arielle.

When her mom saved upenough money, she bought ahouse. Gabby, her mom, andall her siblings moved in andwere happily reunited.

But after that. Gabbydid not see much of herdad. That made her sad."He seldom showed up foranything," Gabby laterwrote. "And when he did . . .it felt awkward for me."

Leaesina ForwardBy age 3, Gabby had

learned to do a cartwheel

www.scholostic.com/actionmog | October 7, 2013 5

and other tricks fromArielle. At age 6, she startedgymnastics classes.

Gabby's amazing talentsoon became apparent.But coaches and gear wereexpensive. The whole familymade sacrifices so thatGabby could train. To savemoney, Gabby's siblingsgave up their own sports. Hermom worked two jobs.

Meanwhile, Gabby's longhours in the gym beganto pay off. At age 8, shewon the Virginia StateGymnastics Championship.

To this day. Gabby is verygrateful for all her family'ssupport. "They helped meget to my dreams," she says.

Bullies in the GymAlthough Gabby's family

stood behind her, noteveryone was so supportive.At times, she had to dealwith racist bullying at thegym. One girl called Gabby"slave." A coach told Gabby

Gabby hugsher coach,Liang Chow

Gabby, in blue, with (fromleft) sisters Joyelle andArielle, mom Natalie, andbrother Johnathan. Inset:Gabby with her host familyin Iowa, the Partons.

she needed a nose job. Thatled to mean teasing fromsome teammates.

Gabby was hurt. But shedidn't tell anyone about thebullying right away. Shedidn't want to jeopardizeher gymnastics career. Today,Gabby realizes she shouldnot have stayed silent. "Youhave to speak up," she says.

In 2010, Gabby movedon to another gym. There,she would train with anew coach, Liang Chow.He had trained other elitegymnasts. Could he help herget ready for the Olympics?

lolden GabbyTraining with a new

coach was exciting. Therewas only one problem.Gabby lived in Virginia.Coach Chow's gym was inIowa, 1,200 miles away.

Gabby, then 14, had toleave her family. She movedto Iowa, where she lived witha host family, the Partons.

The Partons became likea second family to Gabby,who was training hard andcompeting around the world.But just eight months beforethe Olympics, Gabby almostabandoned gymnastics.

"I was very homesick,"she says. "I really wantedto quit." With support fromher family and coaches.Gabby found the strengthto keep going—and tomake Olympic history.

Now known as "GoldenGabby," she has advice forother teens, no matter whattheir goals may be. "Don't beafraid to mess up," she says."Believe in yourself. Andmo^t of all, don't give up!"

—Sarah Jane Brian

READING-COMPREHENSION TEST PREP

Show What You KnowAnswer these questions about "Gabby's Road to Gold."

Fill in the bubble next to the best answer to each question.

m1 • What is the main idea of this text?

® Gabby Douqias won two qold medals.® Gabby overcame many obstacles to

reach her dreams.© Gymnastics is a very difficult sport.® Gabby spends many hours in the gym.

2 « Why do you think the authorincluded Gabby's quote "Youhave to speak up"?® to show how Gabby felt when she

was bullied at the gym® to show that bullying is wrong© to show what Gabby learned from

being bullied® to show why Gabby was bullied

3 . In the section "Golden Gabby" onpage 6, what does the wordabandoned mean?©left ©joined(D loved ® worked

4 « Which phrase on page 6 helps thereader understand the meaning ofthe word abandoned?® "Gabby found the strength"® "Olympic history"© "just eight months before"@ "I really wanted to quit"

p' Gabby with Team U.S.A.; at the 2012 Olympics

9 * On page 5, the reader can inferfrom the phrase "pint-sizepowerhouse" that Gabby is .® famous around the world® good at cooking© smart and hardworking© small but strong

O* Which statement is supported bythe text?® Gymnastics is the most popular

sport at the Summer Olympics.® Gabby has moved more than twice

in her life.© Liang Chow is Gabby's favorite coach.@ Gymnastics gear doesn't cost much.

M • Gabby's advice is, "Don't give up!" In her own life, she has oftenkept going during tough times. Circle two examples in the text.

WIN!What do you find most inspiring obout Gabby Douglas? Write a letter to tellher. Include information from the text in your letter. Send it to actianmag©schalastic.pom. Ten winners will receive Gabby's book Raising tbe Bar! LE il

No purchase necessary. Open ta iegal U.S. residents in grades 6-12. All entries must be received by Navember 15, 2013. Vaid where prohibited. Far an entry farm, compiete detaiis, and officiai rules, go to www.schalastiacam/actianmag.

Answers are in the Teacher's Guide. www.schoiostic.com/a

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