Film, The Gabby Douglas Story (2014), captured many of the emotions that surely were experienced before medals were earned at the 2008 Olympics. Gabby’s family, already at a level of impoverishment, sacrificed for Gabby Douglas to continue training. And, although tempted, Gabby didn’t give up.

The loving and supportive family portrayed in the film is inspiring. I can also appreciate when Gabby explained the need to have faith. I thought it was interesting when Coach Chow correlated faith to gymnastics.

Film critics validly point out that the film neglected to address in appropriate measure, an issue that Gabby had to deal with, racial prejudice. She was a black woman in a predominately white sport.

However, I noticed Gabby had the spirit to encircle herself with those who were uninfluenced by racial prejudice. They didn’t ignore it, but they didn’t butt heads with it either. They got above it, teaching me the lesson that a focus on hard work might be more productive than a focus on human faults and sins.

The film is admirable and I recommend The Gabby Douglas Story.