Gabby Douglas could be having the best year of her life. Not only has she won two Olympic gold medals and made history, but she’s also become a household name. And last night, the Women’s Sports Foundation added a special bonus for the athlete.
Douglas won the Sportswoman of the Year award according to CBS, beating out fellow athletes Serena Williams, Missy Franklin, Allyson Felix and Paralympians Jessica Long and Tatyana McFadden.
Douglas is the third gymnast to win the award—Mary Lou Retton won it in 1984 and Nastia Liukin won it in 2008.
In the November issue of ESSENCE, Douglas shares that she’s enjoying this special time in her life. “I love it. It’s been a little crazy and fun, and we’ve got to enjoy it because it’s going to go by so fast.”
The Virginia native will capture her road to London in an inspirational memoir this coming December. Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith will cover Douglas’ early life, leaving her family at 12-years-old to train in Des Moines, Iowa and her historic Olympic win. She hopes to inspire other young girls with her book.