Gabby Douglas Comments on Prioritizing Self-Care Amid Forgoing the Olympics

Gabby Douglas knows being one of the best American gymnasts of all time means being an expert at balance—both literally and figuratively. After an eight-year break from the sport, last week Douglas, 28, returned to compete in the US Championships in her first bid for the Olympics in almost a decade.

Sadly today, ESPN has reported that Douglas has bowed out due to an ankle injury she sustained during training this week. More and more, athletes are showing us that the mark of a true champion is knowing when it’s time to surrender with grace and focus on their wellness.

Recently, Douglas talked with The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about foot care as a component of athletic training many fans might not think about. As part of a partnership with Dr. Scholl’s skincare line for feet, she also opened up about the value of taking time off for self-care, and what it’s like to witness the world’s growing excitement about women’s sports even outside of gymnastics.

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The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Gabby, so many of you athletes know that your feet are the foundation for so much of what you do. Topically, orthopedically: Is there anything that might surprise us about the ways you need to pay attention to your feet?

Gabby Douglas: Yeah, I feel like feet get overlooked, especially with gymnastics. We use a lot of chalk too, which dries out the skin. On the vault, the beam, and the floor, I honestly hate dry and cracked feet because it hurts so bad when you turn on material. So I love putting reapplying that moisture and having that smooth, smooth [sole].

The Healthy: Gymnastics has always been a celebrated sport that classically features female athletes—for years you’ve had such a loyal following. There’s also unprecedented fandom around women’s pro soccer, female college athletes and newly drafted WNBA players like Caitlyn Clark. What do you think about the times we’re in and how they’re evolving for women in sports?

Gabby Douglas: I honestly think it’s great. It shows the athleticism and attributes a lot to females and women in general. Even within my sport, you have a lot of older women coming out and saying, “Hey, you don’t have to be in your prime [to try] gymnastics.” I love seeing women dominate and push the boundaries. It also inspires so many other athletes and people to say, “Hey, let’s do it. Let’s push the boundaries. She can do good. I can do it, too.”

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The Healthy: We could not love that more. Another of these conversations that we love to see happening around sports right now, and really in many different careers, is the ability to take some breathing space. In 2022, you posted on Instagram saying, Hey, I’m going to take a little bit of time away. You distanced yourself from social media and also from competing. Talk about the benefit you experienced.

Gabby Douglas: Yeah. I endured so much within my career and also too with social media. So I really want make sure what I put out there, especially on social media and in person, is the best version of myself.

So I just started, for me, looking at my Instagram and noticing this is not really what I represent and I want to represent. So I took a step back and I did a lot of self-digging and I did a lot of reflection, journaling. I took that time and hopped off socials, took that time with my animals and my farm, which is very therapeutic and amazing. Just to look deep within myself and say, OK, who do I want to represent? I want to be the best version of myself.

The Healthy: That’s great. Tell us a little bit about your own wellness routine, if you would.

Gabby Douglas: I look at my whole body, even mental, skin, everything, as being one big machine. You can’t do one without the other. So I do a lot where it comes to mental and physical. I do a lot of icing. I do a lot of heating, and especially at night … I love taking care of my feet … I love doing the [Dr. Scholl’s] foot mask, which has a lot of essential oils in it, and Epsom salt too.

The Healthy: What is the one self-care routine that you refuse to skip?

Gabby Douglas: Oh man, I refuse to skip all of it. [Laughs.] I can’t rest at night if I don’t do it all.

For more wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:

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