She’s gone camping at Yosemite and climbed Sydney’s Harbor Bridge in Australia, but no out-of-the box task proved to be more daunting for Oprah Winfrey than completing a balance beam routine in the presence of an Olympian.
Stopping by Liang Chow’s famous gymnastics facility in West Des Moines, Iowa — the home gym of 2012 Team USA standout Gabby Douglas — Winfrey was challenged by the 16-year-old gold medalist to show off her skills.
“OK! We’re on the beam,” an unsteady Winfrey, 58, says as Douglas offers to grab her hands to help her do a scale maneuver. “Oprah, do something: Jump!” suggests Winfrey’s BFF Gayle King from the sidelines.
The first African American gymnast in Olympic history to win the individual all-around title, Virginia Beach native Douglas took home two gold medals at this summer’s London Games: her all-around gold and a gold for her work in helping her teammates — Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber — nab the group all-around title.
Feted by Us Weekly staffers at our New York City earlier this month after returning from the Games, Team USA’s “Fierce Five” have found their newfound fame to be overwhelming. “I Googled ‘Gabby Douglas,’ and all these things popped up like ‘Gabby Douglas makes history!’ And ‘She’s the champion!'” Douglas admitted to Us, laughing. “It was an amazing feeling.”
Gabby Douglas’ episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter airs Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (EST) on OWN.
