Gabrielle Douglas’ former coach Dena Walker
*Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabrielle Douglas told Oprah Winfrey that her days at a gym in Virginia Beach were uncomfortable and that she felt bullied and isolated, a claim the gym’s owner calls hurtful and her former coach and teammates flat out deny.
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Douglas and her mother, Natalie Hawkins, revealed to Winfrey on Sunday’s “Oprah’s Next Chapter” that some of the bullying was racial in nature, describing one incident involving the scraping of the bars in the gym. “They’re like, ‘Why doesn’t Gabby do it? She’s our slave.”
The head of Excalibur Gymnastics, Gustavo Maure, told E! News, “Gabby’s remarks were hurtful and without merit.”
“We’ve had more African Americans in elite and on the national team than any other gym in the country (5, 2 of them in Olympic Trials or Olympic Team Camp),” Maure continued. “Her African American former teammates will answer this serious accusation. (1st statement untruth, she was not the only African American gymnast training in the gym) We are good people. We never were knowingly involved in any type of bullying or racist treatment, like she is accusing Excalibur.”
Another athlete who trained at Excalibur for eight years (two of them alongside Douglas, she said) stated that Douglas’ comments were “absolutely ridiculous.”
“The accusations that are being made against the gymnasts and coaches are just sickening,” Randy Stageburg wrote to Gymnewstics.com. “I watched [head coach Dena Walker] and Gustavo put so much of their time and effort into gabby and the other athletes, no matter their race.
“Gabby was never a victim, in fact many would say she was one of the favorites,” Stageburg continued. “I am not saying that she never felt bullied because when you are in a sport with a bunch of girls it is bond [sic] to happen. However, anything that she may have felt was never about race and I can assure you everyone at some point has felt bullied. I never once heard her complain about girls being mean, funny how it is just now coming up.”
Gustavo Maure
Additionally, the mother of a former Douglas teammate wrote on the gym’s Facebook page that her daughter and the future Olympian were close friends and also posted a picture of the two girls.
“I don’t claim to know everything that happened in the situation with the gym and and its gymnast who is now an Olympic athlete, but I do know that my daughter loved her like a sister for 7 years,” wrote Kim Hedeland. “They were often partnered during training and slept in the same room during travel meets. They attended birthday parties and sleepovers together…My daughter says that she was one of her best friends at the gym and was very sad when she left.”
“I wish to defend the children that trained with her and supported her when she attacks them with these allegations,” Moure, the CEO, continued. “Is Gabrielle a credible person just because she is an Olympic Champion? She is not giving any names or dates, leading us to believe that the accusation is fake. This wouldn’t be the first time that the media has made up a story. Thousands of gymnasts and families have supported our good conduct and our professionalism during the last 30 years.”
Supporters of Douglas wrote on Excalibur’s page, as well, with one woman writing, “I find it really gross that a gym run by, apparently adults, would come out of the gate and defame and publicly ridicule a 16-year old young woman for speaking of her experiences with other female gymnasts.”
Below, her former coach and teammates at Excalibur refute Gabby’s claims to a Virginia Beach news affiliate.
They consider these types of incidents are ‘hurtful and without merit’ because they aren’t supposed to be exposed. This type of ill behavior is ‘natural’ for non-Blacks as they attempt to dehumanize Blacks to the point of surrender and acceptance of any and everything they mete out.
Next they’ll drag some Black kid out to refute what Gabby exposed about the gym and teammates. These deceitful tricks are quite common when they fear Black can compete of their level and even higher.
That would be hard to do since Gabrielle, she does not want to be called “Gabby”, was the only Black American girl there. However, there is always some Tom or Tomasina that is happy to be play the fool for tubobs.
please. i know this area well. i remember when the racist, fascist va. beach cops were hitting us in the head with billy clubs during greek fest. they been racist as he11 down there for years now.i know exactly what Gabriel went through. been there myself when i was a kid. “let me touch your hair..ohhhh..its like a brillo pad”….”you aint like the other blacks i know”..”look at my tan, hold out your arm..wow, im as dark as you”….”you never had shepards pie??” …”she pretty for a black girl”…”lets get outta here, its too many blacks”….”mom wont allow us to have company, you have to wait outside”….”teach me how to dance”…
I I believe Gabby! West VA is the epitome of racism! And little girls can be down right mean. If you were NOT privvy to any incidents she speaks of then say nothing or just say you were unaware of what was taking place. Don’t call her a liar! Being bullied obviously goes on day in and day out all over the world. I am glad Gabby was given a chance. That she didn’t let those little *itches ruin her chance at greatness. In the end…they are just mad she put them on blast.
BlaqueBeauty888
just to clarify, she was not in west virginia, she was in virginia beach which is in south eastern virginia.
They swarm anytime they feel threatened by Black talent. If Gabby couldn’t compete…they wouldn’t have bothered her much and this is one way to tell when you have something over them. Also, non-Blacks attempt more than ever to coerce Black into remaining silent about racism but that’s a big mistake and only emboldens them.
Huey – you took the words right out of my mouth – definitely co-sign with you 120%!!!
I cosign to everyone’s comments, what is the deal with this odd redneck looking coach Dena she looks like a dude IMO. so glad Gabby left that place and now she has achieved her dreams.
So true Melody! If they loved and had great admiration from her, it sure didn’t show during her winning streaks because they were dead on silent until she opened up about the cruelty she has experienced at their gym. How dare they call her out as a liar to cover their own butts. Just sickening!!! I’m glad her mother agreed to let her go to Iowa because now she is sitting on top of the world and they are regretting every moment of it.
I’m pretty sure that type of stuff went on, and most whites would be “shocked” because they never had to go through a day as a black person.
But this is a really a tricky situation. Gabby and her mom need to be careful. The focus right now should be capitalizing financially on her Olympics performance. You got to play your cards like a politician. Every word you say can have an impact, negative or positive. This may not be the best time to bring up that type a shyt. You know how they love to accuse us of using the race card. All this stuff can wait for later. Like when she writes the book. And you know controversial stuff like that will sell some book.
This girl and her mom desperately need a publicist or they may end up throwing it all away.
This is not about speaking the truth and doing the “right” thing. There will be more than enough time for that later. Right now, it’s all about getting them papers.
I agree with Reds 100% and I understand where G is coming from but…. G and her mom are getting pretty close to sounding straight ghetto. At this level and this point best to have a purpose or some action in mind when making these and other kinds of statements.
Ask that the gym institute workshops on bullying since the one girl did admit that teasing does go on even though it’s not meant to be harmful – perfect teaching moment! Offer to hook up with an antibullying program as a spokesperson and put a positive spin on this. Just don’t go around making statements cause it looks ghetto and sounds like whining since she’s now an Olympic champ who overcame the situation to the degree that she won.
Oprah was sitting there looking like this is not the best thing for her to be saying but it will get me ratings and get my name back out in the spot light. G beware of folks who will use you for their own gain!
What was “ghetto” about her interview? I don’t agree with the idea that racism should be swept under the rug for fear of financial loss, or any reason. Whenever someone has a voice, it is beneficial to expose injustice rather that ignore it. Gabby’s “purpose” was to expose this horrible behavior so that other little black girls can be inspired without fear of racial incidents. And as for her father, it was his choice to walk out on his wife and four children. There is no need for her to lie and protect him. If that’s how she feels, that’s how she feels. He had a hand in their strained relationship as well.
Nestafan2, I completely agree with you. Whereas, I would like to see Gabby soar from this point on, she’s actually braver than most professional athletes for speaking out truthfully. The more Blacks have to cower and sweep racism we suffer under the rug…the more racists will heap it on knowing we’re too afraid to react. I doubt if there would have been a problem with Aly Raissman expressing herself on any anti-semitic experiences she may have endured. Gabby was also given the cold-shoulder from her teammates during the Olympics. Many whites still feel certain domains are theirs exclusively. Jackie Robinson was told explicitly not to comment on anything whites hurled his way and here in 2012 we’re still expected to ‘take low’ to make racists more comfortable.
I agree with you Melody about Gabby’s Olympic teammates giving her the cold shoulder you could tell by hte way they grudgingly congratulated her after she won the all around GOLD and the commentators were so gung ho for that Jordyn Wieber to win that htey did not know what to say when Gabby just showed up and showed out over those robotic stonefaced white girls. as for the owner of her former gym criticizing her how do they know aht those ignorant whit girls said to Gabby you and I know dam well those girls were saying crap and denying it.
babycakes, they are masters of deceit and that’s one area no one can compete with them. We know when we are being frozen out and they know when it’s done to them too.
I agree with Reds also I was thinking the same thing. I hope that part of the interview Gabrielle did with Oprah doesn’t overshadow everything she has worked so hard for. Right now it’s her words against theirs. And now that the media has gotten a hold of her former coaches and team mates, that all they need to get the sparks started.
Gabby doesn’t strike me as a liar or fabricator but what really bothered me is how she cut her father completely off. She was like, I haven’t spoken to my Dad since the Olympics and since my Mom got me a new phone, he doesn’t have the number and its best he doesn’t contact me right now and Oprah just skinned and grinned and skated right over that…only their family knows the deal with the father but damn, to diss him on TV. I thought the interview really sucked and Oprah Winfrey just makes me wanna vomit. Can’t stand her ass, AT ALL.
I was offended by the handling of these sensitive topics (racism, father relationship). Her ability to capitalize on her “GOLD” medals took a “nose dive!”
She should have saved this for a book…. in some far into the future date! The advertisers are running! The price for her celebrity down, down, down. All because of OKRA & her mother!
Her mother… I am absolutely disappointed in her. I don’t care about the issues between her… and her husband (Gabby’s dad). If he did not pay his share… so what! Suck it up and let it go. How dare you use her celebrity to throw her dad under the bus. Why not give him the opportunity to apologize and work thru any issues with Gabby… Gabrielle… or whatever she wishes to be called! What a low down thing to do. Get her a new phone, with new number… so he can’t reach her! Dang!!!!
@Steph, exactly! I felt a little discomfort for her when they talked about the father. Of course, we don’t know much behind the scene with their relationship but that’s still her father and with the sensitivity of the fame and all the changes she will have to make, it is time for a PR agent to come into play. Her mom kinda make my feathers ruffled because she is not taking the appropriate action in how to go about this and you can see the bitterness displayed through the child. Just a wrong way they went about it. Oprah will dig deep no matter what even when she knows she shouldn’t be going “there”.
As proud as I am for Gabby and all her accomplishments, slowly her celebatory moment is turning controversial which could distract her especially at the tender age she is. Her mom needs to step aside and not call all the shots, hire a good PR and some other good reputable people to help them through this period because the media will eat this young baby alive. They already threw black women under the bus about her hair.
Children, especially girls, can be very mean to each other. I think her parents should have prepared her for the stupid tubobs she would and will encounter along the way. She can’t be lulled into a false sense of reality by her host family in Iowa. There is nothing that can be done for them because the DNA of the tubob makes them the way they are. They can never be trusted nor believed. If you don’t believe me, ask the Lakota.
Last of the Frozen Chosin and one of the Chosin Few
I have never trusted Gabby. It’s more to her.
And this from a diseased racist who champions the poker faced murderer of Trayon. You’re just pissed no mexicans competed in Gabby’s event.
Mel, I honestly thing Gayle says these stupid ass comments to piss you off. @ Gayle, you sound like a damn fool. What more is it to a 16 year old? OMG
Sure she does…but it’s also clear she’s a jealous b*tch who loves slurping on Black dyck at the same time.
Diva, Reds, I agree with you all, but Gabrielle needs to shut up NOW . . .get that publicist . . .she’s gonna get eaten alive . . . . . . . . . . . . Gayle K, please answer, why don’t you trust her?
nightshift, Gayle said on another thread Gabby would dead by next year. The b*tch is simply mad no mexicans distinguished themselves at the Olymphics.
LoL, but that was such a horrible thing to say.
This is a 16 year old girl. A child being ridiculed by some got damn adults due to her opinion and feelings. As if Gabby never had any right to go back and tell her experiences. I can imagine what Gabby had to hold on to while in training of this nature. It reflects misconception on behalf of the adults who may have though and believed that everything was just fine and dandy, honky dory. It shows they had no real clue on how this girl actually felt & kept inside during her stay. I feel its best to speak out as certain things happen, but that’s just an opinion as others may speak out later on life. As you know people really came forth on Sandusky in recent years, and this monster had been screwing lil boys 20-30 years back. Now his bitch ass is in jail for his crimes long ago. The disconnect is that Gabby actually felt one way as the ex-gym coach & others are now shocked by Gabby’s true feelings.They didn’t care too much about her feelings then in comparison to her recent remarks that affected the gym’s reputation as claimed. Some of my best friends are good racists people to learn from and take note of. So not at all do I mind knowing my enemy’s next move for a possible friendly 187!
muzyk, those mofos actually strengthened Gabby’s resolve and determination to become the champion she is today. Judging from the comments I’m reading on various boards, many folks believe her and know all the insidious games they play.
Agree. Just look at the picture above of Gabrielle Douglas former coach Dena Walker.He claims to be so shocked. I don’t believe what this funny ass looking man has to say. Probably a transgender – yikes. Gabby’s mom shouldn’t even want her daughter training under it.
I believe every word of this.
When you or I are the only person of color NON-white among whites, they will say racial bait things to you, these idiots don’t know any better they are taught to disrespect people of color as if the whites are more superior, so they will talk down to you on a racial level.
Doesn’t matter how these racial people act at this point in america, God’s fingerprint was on this gold medal winner, some people are called and some are chosen and this girl was chosen by God.
What god has for you no one can take it from you.