Skip to main content
Sojourners
faith in action for social justice
Sojourners
About
About SojournersEventsOur TeamWork With UsMediaWays to GiveInvite a SpeakerContact Us
SojoAction
OverviewTake ActionIssue AreasResourcesFaith-Rooted AdvocatesChurch Engagement
Magazine
Current IssueArchivesManage My SubscriptionWrite for Sojourners
Sections
LatestPoliticsColumnsLiving FaithArts & CultureGlobalPodcastsVideoPreaching The Word
Subscribe
MagazineRenewPreaching the WordCustomer ServiceNewsletters
Donate
Login / Register

Olympian Gabby Douglas to Write Christian Book

By the Web Editors
Gabby Douglas at the DNC in Charlotte, N.C. earlier this week.
Gabby Douglas at the DNC in Charlotte, N.C. earlier this week.
Sep 6, 2012
Share

They call her the "Flying Squirrel" — Gabby Douglas, the pint-sized fire-cracker who won two gold medals (and the hearts of millions) at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Gabby can flip, tumble, vault, balance, swing, totally stick the landing, throw out the first ball at a Dodgers game, charm Jay Leno and Howard Stern (try that, Michael Phelps!), and high-five the First Lady — all the while exuding confidence, good humor and the greatest of ease through her cajillion-watt smile.

So, what's next for the 16-year-old wonderkind?

A tell-all book... about her Christian faith.

Gabby is working on her first book — a memoir titled Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith — which is expected to be published at the end of the year, according to an announcement made today by the Christian publishing house, Zondervan.

"Even before I competed in the Olympics, I always wanted to write a book," Zondervan quotes Gabby as saying. "Of course, there'll be a lot of stories about gymnastics, but the book will also be about how much my family and I have overcome during our journey. It hasn't been easy. I want people to read my story and say, 'If Gabby can do it, I can do it, too. Anything is possible.' I hope the book inspires others to go for their biggest dreams."

Gabby, who took home two gold medals from the London games, is the first African-American to win gold in the gymnastics all-around and the first American gymnast to win both the team gold and the all-around gold medal at the same Olympics.

Zondervan describes Grace, Gold, and Glory this way:

In Gabby's book, the Olympic fan favorite gives readers a never-before-seen look at her life. Douglas will reveal how her modest upbringing rooted in family and faith has shaped her into the young woman and role model she is today, including personal reflections and memories from her childhood. Talking candidly about the difficulties she's faced while attempting to triumph on the world gymnastics stage, Gabby will touch on how her deep faith and the support of her family helped keep her focused throughout the intense scrutiny she faced in London while achieving her Olympic dreams. Through it all, Gabby's focus will be on how her life and the talents she has been blessed with are being used for a greater glory.

Faith plays a central role in the young gymnast's life and, since entering the spotlight, she's not been shy in talking about it publicly.

"My faith has definitely been strong. I have been meditating on scriptures and quoting some in London every day to build my faith a little stronger every day," Gabby said during a press conference last month. "It's so important to stay true to your faith.”

Photo credit: Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas waves after leading the Pledge of Allegiance during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images.

Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!

Tell Us What You Think!

We value your feedback on the articles we post. Please fill out the form below, and a member of our online publication team will receive your message. By submitting this form, you consent to your comment being featured in our Letters section. 

Please do not include any non-text characters, such as emojis or other non-standard content, into your submission.  It may cause errors in submitting the form.  Thanks!

Don't Miss a Story!

Sojourners is committed to faith and justice even in polarized times. Will you join us on the journey?
Confirm Your Email Address.
By entering your email we'll send you our newsletter each Thursday. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Gabby Douglas at the DNC in Charlotte, N.C. earlier this week.
Search Sojourners

Subscribe

Magazine Newsletters Preaching The Word
Follow on Facebook Follow on Bluesky Follow on Instagram Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Sojourners
Donate Products Editorial Policies Privacy Policy

Media

Advertising Press

Opportunities

Careers Fellowship Program

Contact

Office
408 C St. NE
Washington DC, 20002
Phone 202-328-8842
Fax 202-328-8757
Email sojourners@sojo.net
Unless otherwise noted, all material © Sojourners 2025