Gabby Douglas Raises The Bar With 2nd Book

Hey guys, it's Tracy in the Young Hollywood Studio and I am with Gabby Douglas. Who is not only Olympic gold medalist but New York Times best-selling author. How are you?

Good. How are you?

Good. First of all, you've had such an amazing, I mean, you're only 17, but you've had such an amazing journey up until this moment. What has your life been like since you were, you know, making history on that podium?

I've been getting to do a lot of amazing opportunities. I'm doing speaking engagements, um, book signings, media appearances. But, man, I'm just having a blast.

So, I know you did you did your first book and that was sort of like, you know, your journey, backstory of how you actually started in gymnastics. And then what made you want to do this follow-up book, which is called Raising the Bar?

Yeah. Second book called Raising the Bar. I wanted to put my life in perspective. Everyone wanted to know what is Gabby Douglas doing? So, this is a lot of cool pictures, quotes and scriptures. And I also think my fans can learn a lot more about me in this book. Has fun facts, memories from the Olympics, and and just the journey.

So it's cool to sort of seeing, you know, you putting your whole life like in this book and it's it's fun. It's exactly what you said, it's huge pictures of you, cool quotes. So, I actually have picked out a couple, which it said, "I refuse to give up. I refuse to quit. I pushed toward my dream, knowing that it will be my reality."

That's good one. And actually, that quote was from my mom. She would write out, um, a big confession, we call it confession board and she would just write down the board. So that came from, um, what she wrote down.

How has your mom just sort of like kept you going in this whole journey? Is she obviously really supportive?

Yeah, my mom is very supportive. And she just told me to keep fighting. I remember at tough times, she would always help me through it. She is just an amazing woman and I love her so much. I don't think I could have ever accomplished my dream without her.

Your sister and your mom wrote really cute letters, which I also loved. Giving you, you know, this encouragement.

So they like hid like letters in my suitcase and I'd just open up and I'm like, what's this? And I would read it and I'd just be so motivated. Some letters I cried because I was away from my family and I don't know, it just felt like home for me.

So, you know, what is one message that you want your fans to take away from this book?

This book is supposed to be fun, but I love to think of it as an inspirational fan book and it has a lot of great quotes and I want them to know, um, you know, anything is possible and to go after their dreams and just dream big.

So, do you still keep in touch with the Fierce Five?

I do. Yes. I think the last time we saw each other was a Cartoon Network Awards, but Kyla wasn't there, but we still keep in touch. Actually, I just went on Dates with the Stars. I sat in the crowd.

Oh nice, we just had Allie here recently.

Oh yeah. She's doing amazing. I know she's doing really good.

So is there any one person, I know you've met so many people, you've met the President, Michelle Obama, like who's been anybody that's sort of have you been starstruck by anybody?

I don't really get starstruck, but I think meeting, you know, the President, I was really starstruck. And meeting the cast of The Vampire Diaries. I love The Vampire Diaries. I love it. So obsessed with that show. When I first came on, me and my sister were like, uh, no, we like Twilight. And then we started watching it and we fell in love. People would interview me, they're like, what's your favorite show? I'm like The Vampire Diaries. And after the Olympics, you know, they caught on and they made a video for me. And when I went home, I saw the video and I just fell out of my chair. Because they said like, congratulations, Gabby and to the USA team. And I think at that point I was shocked.

You know, talking about like, you know, obviously TV, then is there any music, bands that you're just loving right now or that?

Uh, okay, I love the new song by Rihanna, it's called Stay. Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Evanescence. I love them.

And a funnest story that's in your book actually with Alicia Keys and you were doing cartwheels in the background and then you were like worried cause your shirt was coming up.

How'd you know? A lot of people thought it was part of the costume, so I was like, okay, let's go with that. But I forgot to wear like a tank top. My teammates and I presented the award. We were presenting Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj. And after that, I had to go on stage. So they ran me back and there's a quick change. They're like, 30 seconds. I was like, strip into my pants. I was like, a little nerve-wracking and then, you know, I tumbled and it was so much fun.

So, obviously, you know, I'm sure you're going to be training very soon for the Olympics in Brazil, 2016. So, when do you start training again?

Uh, in a week. A week or so. Yeah.

Oh my God. Doesn't it seem like, isn't it crazy? Is there anything else, you know, that you haven't done in the future that you really want to do?

I mean, I would love to pursue in acting, producing.

Got the acting bug.

Oh yeah. Or hosting. I mean, I hosted America's Got Talent. It was really fun with Nick Cannon. So that was fun and triple quadruple threat right here.

Yeah. Well, good luck to you in the future. I can't wait to see you in the Olympics.

Yeah, thank you so much.

You have to go get this book. It's amazing. It's all of Gabby's life and she is adorable. So.

Oh, thank you.