"I wanted to make sure I end on love and joy"- Gabby Douglas hopes to finish her career on a high

The three-time Olympic champion and one of America's gymnastics greats, Gabby Douglas, will be appearing in her second event of the season, the U.S. Core Hydration Classic, after her return to professional endeavors at the 2024 American Classic. She is eager to end her career on a high note.

Douglas was away from the sport for eight long years, and the 2024 American Classic in April marked her comeback, where she finished second in the women's vault after scoring 14.000 points and executed a double-twisting Yurchenko in the same event. She placed fifth in the balance beam event, scoring 13.350 points and in all-around discipline, she scored 50.65.

Gabby Douglas went through some challenging times when she was away from the sport, but that's all in the past now, and she wants to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics to bid adieu to her illustrious career on a high note. Reflecting on the same, Douglas gave a statement to Olympics.com on Friday and quoted:

"I missed gymnastics and I loved it, and it ended rough for me in 2016,” Douglas explained. "I didn’t want to end on that note. Like regardless of the outcome, I wanted to make sure like I end on love and joy instead of like hating something that I love."

After winning the all-around competition during the 2012 London Olympics, Gabby Douglas became the first-ever Black woman athlete to achieve such a feat in artistic gymnastics. She is just not done with the sport yet and is currently in Hartford, Connecticut, to participate in the U.S. Core Hydration Classic 2024.

Gabby Douglas feels nostalgic about the U.S. Core Hydration Classic 2024

Gymnastics - Artistic - Olympics: Day 9

The 28-year-old gymnast had everyone in wonders regarding her comeback whereabouts, as she was supposed to return to the mats after the Winter Cup, but luck had it and she had to take her name back following testing positive for COVID-19. But she is finally here and is ready for the second outing of the season in Hartford for the U.S. Core Hydration Classic 2024.

Reflecting on her sentiments about the event, Gabby Dougals stated (via abc NEWS):

"I felt like, so much nostalgia,"

The U.S. Core Hydration Classic would be a great opportunity for Douglas to confirm her ticket to the 2024 US National Championships, which will ultimately lead to the US Olympic trials and then the Games itself.