It’s GOLD for Gabby Douglas in the Individual all-around title

Congratulations to Ms. Gabby Douglas, the 16-year-old Virginia native won gymnastics’ biggest prize today, she won the individual all-around title.  In addition to her big win, Gabby is now THE FIRST African American to win such title.

With a score of 62.232, Gabby was three-tenths ahead Russia’s Viktoria Komova, who was favored to win in today’s meet.

Gabby also got the biggest compliment today from gymnastics coaching legend Bela Karolyi, who compared her to Nadia Comaneci, who won Gold in 1976.

“It looked to me like a skinny Nadia was jumping up and down on the floor,’’ he said. “It was like Montreal, 1976. Unknown, no experience, it was unbelievable. I’m a little surprised. We didn’t know how she’d last.’’

The individual all-around is regarded as the top prize in the sport and Douglas’ gold makes it three straight for the American women. Carly Patterson won the 2004 gold in the individual event and Nastia Liukin took the gold home in 2008. The event features all four women’s events – the vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor.