Gabrielle Douglas Makes the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team

Nicknamed “Flying Squirrel,” 16-year-old bests reigning gymnast

Virginia Beach, Va. has a new Olympian to celebrate, in Gabrielle Douglas.

She’s earned the nickname “Flying Squirrel” because of her gymnastic abilities, which have guaranteed the 16-year-old a spot on the Olympic women’s gymnastics team, the Los Angeles Times reports.

On Sunday, Douglas won the spot over reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber during the Olympic trials held in San Jose, Calif.

From the LAT story:

"All of this hard work has paid off," Douglas said. "I just can't wait to wear those red, white and blue stripes down my back. It feels like a dream come true…”

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Douglas struggled early on in Sunday night’s trials with a “wickedly wobbly” balance beam routine. Wieber had cut into Douglas' lead until the floor exercise, when Douglas outscored her rival, “wiggling her hips and smiling the entire time.”

Below, see video of Douglas meeting Olympian Dominique Dawes, to whom she's been compared:

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