Olympian Gabby Douglas on Why She Almost Quit Gymnastics

Gabby Douglas worked hard to become a champion. In the early years, before she won an Olympic medal, the star gymnast had to train while making enough money to afford coaches, gym time, travel, equipment, and more.

Her mother took two jobs to support her. And she provided sound financial advice.

“She picked the right [financial] team for me,” Douglas told Vivian Tu, aka Your Rich BFF, on SoFi’s YouTube series Richer Lives, explaining that she only works with people that share her vision for success.

During their conversation, Douglas broke down her financial mindset after winning Olympic gold, why she moved to a farm in Dallas, and her alternate dream career. (Hint: It involves chicken sandwiches.)

Gabby’s Financial Journey

Winning a medal isn’t the same as winning the lottery. The first time Douglas brought home the gold, she got $37,500 for her achievement – a nice sum, but not enough to live a life of luxury.

“I didn’t grow up with money, so when even the smallest deal came in for me, I was so happy,” Douglas said. She didn’t indulge in a shopping spree. Instead, she went straight back to the gym.

Eventually, sponsorship deals and other financial opportunities came. But Douglas didn’t rest on her laurels. She started preparing for a life after gymnastics, thinking about how she could benefit financially from her Olympic triumphs.

“We do have a short window, but if you can capitalize on that moment and transition into whatever you want to do – that’s golden,” she said.

Tasty Dreams

Back in 2012, Douglas was an accomplished athlete. But she briefly considered another career path.

“OK, in 2012 I did want to quit gymnastics and work at Chick-fil-A,” she said. “I was obsessed with their milkshakes. And so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I’ll just work at Chick-fil-A.’”

After she won gold in the Summer Olympics in London, she stuck with gymnastics. Not that Chick-fil-A wasn’t interested in her talents.

“The CEO called me and was like, ‘Hey, we still got that job open.’”

Life on the Farm

After living in California for seven years, Douglas decided to move to Dallas because she had family there and taxes were lower.

“So I live on a farm,” she said. “It’s cute. It’s very private.”

Her family started out with five cows. Now, she has 10 or 11, and other animals as well. And they require a significant financial investment.

“You have to pay for the hay. You have to pay for shots, because they have to be updated on their vaccinations. And then for the llamas, they eat the hay as well, and they have to get sheared.”

So what’s next for Douglas, aside from keeping her farm animals happy? She plans to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and is hoping to up her TikTok game.

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