Gymnastics fans everywhere watched the Gabrielle Douglas inspired Lifetime movie, "Dreams of Gold," back in early February 2014 and became even bigger fans of the 2012 All-Around Olympic Gold Medalist. After all of the excitement from the movie died down and Gabby has returned to training at Chow's Gymnastics in Des Moines, Iowa, we were able to grab a few moments of her precious time to ask her how she feels about the movie, her comeback and her leotards.
GK: We were so excited to watch your Lifetime movie on Television, Gabby. How exciting! How involved were you in the writing and production of your story?
GD: I worked a lot on the script with my family. Lifetime and Sony were awesome to work with during the whole process. I also worked with the Director and one of the Executive Producers on some of the casting and was able to give tips on my gymnastic skills and poses.
GK: A lot of actors say that they never watch their own movies. Although someone else played your part, did you sit down and watch the Gabby Douglas Story on TV?
GD: I did. I was actually in New York City when it aired because I was a Special Correspondent for Inside Edition at Super Bowl XLVIII. I had a small viewing party in my hotel room with my mom, my publicist, and another friend. My siblings had a viewing party at home in Los Angeles.
GK: Were there any parts in the movie that you felt were significantly dramatized for viewing purposes?
GD: We only had 80 minutes to tell my story, so we had to condense some parts of my gymnastic career due to the time constraints. Actually, my life story contained so much drama that we couldn't fit it all into the movie.
GK: In the movie, Gabby all but gives up on her dream right at the height of her career, before the Olympics. Is that true? If so, is there a precise moment when you told yourself that you’re going to continue?
GD: That was totally true! I told the story in detail in my book, Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith. My family came to Iowa to celebrate the Holidays and my birthday with me in December 2011. The time flew by so fast that before I knew it, they were leaving to return to Virginia. I wanted to go with them because I was so homesick. I missed them so much! I told my mom that I wanted to quit just seven months before the 2012 Olympic Games. About two weeks after they left in January, I decided that I would stay and fight for my dream.
GK: We’ve had some fans ask us about the leotards worn in the movie. Which ones were your most and least favorite?
GD: I liked all of the gymnastics leotards in the movie. I thought it was cool how they recreated some of the competitive leotard styles that I actually wore during competitions.
GK: What is your overall feeling about the Gabby Douglas story, as it was portrayed on television to the world?
GD: I am very pleased with the movie! So many people have told me how inspirational it was, and that was exactly the message that I wanted the move to tell. It makes me happy that it touched so many lives! It's very humbling to know that you can have a positive effect on others.
GK: Has movie stardom changed your life in anyway?
GD: In some ways it has and in other ways it has not. I am still the same person I have always been, but now I know that many young people see me as a role model. It is very important to me that they know that they can accomplish their goals the same way that I accomplished mine. I think the biggest change is that I had a lot of wonderful opportunities after the Olympics, and they all required a lot of traveling!
GK: We’ve seen you make appearances on a Disney Channel show, as well as a sitcom. Do you plan on being in any other shows in the future?
GD: I really enjoy acting and would like to do more in the future. For now, I have had to turn down some amazing appearances and acting opportunities so that I can focus on my training.
GK: Your first Olympic appearance was quite a rush for the entire country. What do you hope to accomplish at the next Olympics if you attend, and is there anything you would do differently to prepare?
GD: I really want to upgrade my skills and add more difficulty to my routines. I think the way that I prepared last time gives me an excellent example of how I need to prepare this time. I will definitely do some things differently. My hope is to be a part of Team USA again and to continue to inspire others to pursue their goals.
GK: And lastly, your Signature Collection of gymnastics leotards has been a HUGE hit with gymnasts across the country. Tell us what inspires your design ideas and which styles you personally prefer to wear when training in the gym.
GD: I'm inspired by so many things! My Summer collection is filled with bright colors, bold prints and lately a lot of sparkling Sequinz designs. It's my hope that the styles are empowering to the athletes who choose to wear them. I personally wear all of my Gabby Douglas leotards to the gym. It's hard to pick which ones are my favorite when I love them all! In the photo above, I'm wearing one of my signature leotards from Back to School 2013.
A big THANK YOU to Gabrielle Douglas for taking the time to tell us more about the movie. We'll be here cheering for you on your journey to Rio 2016! If you are a fan of Gabby, be sure to check out the latest gymnastics leotards from the Summer Gabrielle Douglas Signature Collection! You won't be disappointed!
GK. Choice of Champions.