Gabby Douglas quits U.S. championships, terminates 2024 Olympic bid

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has withdrawn from this weekend's U.S. gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, due to an ankle injury sustained during training.

This injury ends Douglas' remarkable attempt to join the 2024 Paris Olympic team after an eight-year hiatus. At 28, she would have been the oldest American woman to compete in gymnastics at the Olympics since 1952. Despite the setback, Douglas expressed pride in her achievements during her 18-month comeback.

"I love this sport and I love pushing my limits," Douglas told ESPN. "I hope I can inspire both my peers and the next generation of gymnasts that age is just a number, and you can accomplish anything you work hard for."

Douglas made history at the 2012 London Olympics as the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold medal. In the 2016 Olympics, she contributed to the U.S. women's team securing their second consecutive gold medal in the team event, earning her a third Olympic gold.

Earlier this month at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, Douglas struggled on the bars before withdrawing from the rest of the competition. The U.S. championships would have been her final opportunity to qualify for the Olympic trials in Minneapolis in June. Instead, she plans to recover from her injury and begin training for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when she will be 32.