Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles | Getty Images

"Constantly being bullied is very tiring and wearing on me"-Gabby Douglas weighs in on social media hate and being overshadowed by Simone Biles

Modified Aug 12, 2024 02:45 GMT

Gabby Douglas addressed encountering hate messages and bullying on social media as the Paris Olympics concluded. Responding to a video that spoke that Douglas was eclipsed by Simone Biles as the face of gymnastics, the American expressed that it was very tiring and had a profound impact on her.

The American raised huge anticipation in the gymnastics world when she announced that she would be ending her eight-year-long hiatus and making a competitive comeback targeting to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She made her first appearance since the Rio Olympics at the American Classic held in Katy, Texas where she qualified for the U.S. Core Hydration Classic.

Douglas fell twice during the bar routine however, she managed to remount and complete her maneuver and later withdrew from the event altogether, ending her dream to compete at the Paris Olympics. This brought about a lot of trolling as well as discussions on social media from fans who felt that Simone Biles had eclipsed Douglas.

Douglas reacted to a video on TikTok speaking about the same issue. In the TikTok video, the user claimed:

“I still never forget how y’all fumbled Gabby Douglas. Y’all dropped her like a bad habit when Simone Biles came on the scene.Gabby Douglas used to be the greatest Olympic gymnast and then here comes Simone Biles and nobody cares about Gabby Douglas anymore. When was the last time we spoke about Gabby Douglas."

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The American gymnast addressed the situation and expressed the profound impact trolling and bullying had on her.

“That’s ok! Constantly being bullied is very tiring and wearing on me.I just want to live my life and be at peace. Thanks for the love! Definitely needed in this world x.”

Gabby Douglas on ending her Paris Olympics dream

Gymnastics - 2024 Core Hydration Classic - Source: Getty

After withdrawing from the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Douglas' dream to compete at the Paris Olympics came to an end as she could not qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials. The American gymnast took to Instagram to share her thoughts about the same and said:

"Wow, what a journey. First off I just wanted to say that I am forever grateful for all of your support, grace, and love. it truly has touched my heart. I’m sad to say that due to a foot injury during practice, I will not be able to continue my 2024 journey. this may be the end of this chapter but not the end of my gymnastics story."

She thanked her fans for their unwavering support and encouraging her during tough moments in her journey.