Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas is known for her skills on the gymnastics mat. But on Thursday night, she got to show off her skills on the pitchers mound.
Douglas, 16, was chosen to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the game between the New York Mets and the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y.
"I'm a little more nervous," Douglas said before the opening pitch. "Everyone just tells me to throw the ball hard, so I'm going to throw it hard."
The two-time gold medalist, who was surrounded by autograph-seeking fans at the baseball stadium, took time to meet with young New York City kids at a charity event before the game.
"I wanted to tell my story and where I came from and my background, because it was not easy," Douglas said, according to the New York Daily News. "I had to face a lot coming through this journey, a lot of sacrifices, difficulties, challenges, and injuries.
"I wanted everyone to know it's still possible for anyone really. I wanted to make them know to never give up and always keep fighting, because though times may be tough, the sacrifices do pay off, so just keep pushing towards your dream and just love it at the same time and enjoy it."
