Gabby Douglas Announces Return, Will to Try to Make 2024 USA Olympics Gymnastics Team

Gabby Douglas announced Tuesday that she is making her return to competitive gymnastics and hoping to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Douglas stated her intention on NBC News Now, saying: "I never announced a retirement. I didn't want to end this sport like I did in 2016. I wanted to take a step back and work on myself and my mental state."

Douglas, 28, is best known for winning a gold medal in the all-around competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, making her the first Black woman to accomplish that feat.

After winning gold in the all-around and team event as a member of the United States squad dubbed the "Fierce Five," Douglas returned to win team gold again at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro as part of the "Final Five."

Douglas was a teenager during each of her two Olympic experiences, but now as she approaches 30 years of age, she is hoping for an Olympic swan song.

She will compete at the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 24, marking her first competitive gymnastics meet in nearly eight years.

Douglas, who returned to training in 2022, said she is "definitely" aiming to make the 2024 Olympic team and added: "I honestly love going to the gym and getting my skills back. It is very exciting."

While Douglas was the best gymnast in the world for a period of time, it is unclear how the lengthy layoff has potentially impacted her.

Even by 2016, Douglas had been surpassed by fellow American Simone Biles, who won the 2016 Olympic all-around and established herself as arguably the greatest gymnast of all time.

Biles is looking to make Team USA at the 2024 Olympics after taking a two-year break following the 2020 Olympics, as is 2020 Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee.

Lee and Biles are the favorites to represent he United States in the all-around at the 2024 Olympics, meaning Douglas' best chance at making the team may be as a specialist in a certain discipline or as someone capable of contributing positively to the team event.