Gabby Douglas is back – and in peace

Gabby Douglas is back in motion and she’s really completely happy about it. The 28-year-old, the primary black gymnast to grow to be a person Olympic all-around champion, is returning to her completely happy place to compete in the Paris Olympics this summer after withdrawing from the Tokyo Games. She trains eight hours a day, which is what her body can handle. However, the gold medalist admits that her feet have been through loads.

“Everything a gymnast does has an impact on our feet,” she tells ESSENCE. I even have used a whole lot of chalk through the years and it removes moisture from my feet. Hard landings cause bruising and swelling, and certain movements cause the skin on the soles of the feet to harden.

Knowing that she wore feet, Douglas cooperated Dr. Scholl and has been introduced right into a line of foot care products, including skincare options that include foot masks, heel balms, creams and more. This allowed her feet to get well quickly in spite of everything the jumps, twists, turns and hard landings.

“I always use it Scholl electronic foot file for removing calluses to get rid of any rough skin that appears and then I’ll make sure to rub some of it in Ultra-moisturizing foot cream to restore the moisture that the chalk takes away,” he says. “Proper foot care is really essential to me and I even have found that if I’m consistent and use high-quality products, llike those from Dr. SchollMy feet do not feel like they have been beaten.”

Douglas returns to the highlight after a several-year break from gymnastics. During this time, she began working on the farm together with her family (“I know, Gabby Douglas on a tractor?”), traveling, and specializing in self-care.

“I was able to really focus on myself, relax, have some nice time with friends and family and decide what I wanted to do next,” she says. The decision to return was related to a return to the game she loved since childhood and perhaps a positive ending to her wealthy profession.

“Gymnastics has always been a part of who I am, and while these years of rest were necessary, getting back into my exercise routine made me realize how much I missed competing,” she says. “From that moment on, I knew it was time to take on the next big challenge – competing for a place at the 2024 Olympics.”

Of course, Douglas is not latest to the world stage. She has faced the very best highs and experienced the downsides that include the eye, including comments on the whole lot from her performances to her sportsmanship and hairstyle. This time, she’s ready for whatever may come as she focuses on her love for the game and the support she receives from the individuals who really know her.

“In my free time, I focused on finding ways to protect my mental health and making sure I could apply these practices to my daily life,” she says. I even have found that it is essential to let go of all of the negativity and give attention to those that love and support you.”

While her goal is definitely to get to Paris this summer, she also has her sights set on the longer term. She mentions that outside of gymnastics she learned who Gabby Douglas is and hopes that she will be able to proceed to uplift others.

“I was able to use my platform to speak up and share my journey in hopes of inspiring and motivating others,” Douglas says. “I would like to expand my platform so that I can grow it and be a person who inspires others to never give up on themselves and their dreams, despite the obstacles that may stand in their way.”