First Gold medal for African American gymnast

Gabby Douglas has become the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal for gymnastics.

On Thursday, the 16-year-old, who is nicknamed "the Flying Squirrel", claimed her medal with a score of 62,232.

Russia's Viktoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina winning silver and bronze.

Gabby said she felt "honoured" to have gained the title and adding:

"It just feels amazing to be called the Olympic champion."

Gabby wowed the crowd at North Greenwich arena as she excelled in all four stages of the contest: the uneven bars, beam, floor and the vault, which earned her a score of 15.966, the highest of the competition.

Meanwhile Team GB's Rebecca Tunney,15, finished 13th on her Olympic debut, with a score of 56.932.

Photo: © Getty

Friday August 3, 2012

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