Gabrielle Douglas

While it was her mega-watt smile and boundless energy that won America's heart, it was Gabby Douglas' commanding skills and high-flying moves that took her all the way to the top of the sport of gymnastics. Douglas's drive to win was undeniable; at 15 years old, she moved away from her family for the opportunity to train with elite gymnastics coach Liang Chow. Douglas quickly rose up the ranks, collecting victories and top finishes, including medals at the 2012 U.S. National Championships, where her breathtaking aerial performance on the uneven bars earned her the nickname the "Flying Squirrel." Douglas' winning streak continued all the way to London, as a member of the 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team. In spite of stiff competition from more experienced gymnasts, Douglas dominated, as she performed the complicated sequences of leaps and somersaults on the balance beam, and the breathtaking height on the uneven bars that led her to win gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competitions. Douglas became the first African-American gymnast to ever win the individual all-around Olympic gold, and the first American to win both the all-around and team events at the same Olympics. While her impressive performance netted Douglas endorsement deals, media appearances, and magazine covers, it was still her historic win at the Olympic Games that turned her into a teen role model and true gymnastics icon.