Gabrielle Douglas's Ex-Gym: "Her Claims That We Bullied Her & Called Her A 'Slave' Are Lies"

Gabrielle Douglas's interview with Oprah Winfrey aired on Sunday

As could be predicted, the Virginia Beach gym is coming out swinging about Miss Douglas's interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday. From the Daily Mail (Britain): "The owner of the Virginia Beach gym, where Gabby Douglas has said she was bullied and called 'slave' during early training, has called the Olympic gymnast's comments 'hurtful' and 'without merit'. Gabby, 16, who won two gold medals for Team USA during the London Games, told Oprah Winfrey on Sunday that she nearly quit the sport after cruel, and possibly racist jibes, pushed her to breaking point."

The article continues: "But Excalibur Gymnastics CEO Gustavo Maure and a number of her former teammates today hit back at the allegation. In a statement to E! News, he wrote: 'We've had more African Americans in elite and on the national team than any other gym in the country (5, 2 of them in Olympic Trials or Olympic Team Camp). 'Her African American former teammates will answer this serious accusation. (1st statement untruth, she was not the only African American gymnast training in the gym). We are good people. We never were knowingly involved in any type of bullying or racist treatment, like she is accusing Excalibur...'I wish to defend the children that trained with her and supported her when she attacks them with these allegations.'"

More: "Fellow gymnast Randy Stageburg, who trained for two years alongside Gabby at Excalibur, added to Gymnewstics.com that the suggestion of racism was 'absolutely ridiculous', though she did admit that a degree of bullying was a given in an environment with lots of girls. 'Gabby was never a victim, in fact many would say she was one of the favorites,' she said."

Booker Rising response: Well, something went down at that gym. Gabrielle Douglas was verbal-body congruent (i.e., she was telling the truth) while she was describing the situation to Oprah Winfrey. You can see her interview with Ms. Winfrey here.