Gabby Douglas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, became the victim of a wave of cyberbullying during this year's Games in Rio. People targeted her hair, her lack of smiling and the position of her hand during the national anthem -- almost everything was scrutinized.
So much so that, in the last post-competition interview of her Olympic career, Douglas called the harassment "hurtful" and "a lot to deal with." To fight back, she became the first change ambassador for Hack Harassment, a group that aims to make the internet a safer place.
We asked Douglas about her experience with cyberbullying and what she hopes to accomplish through Hack Harassment.
espnW: What sparked your involvement in Hack Harassment?
Gabby Douglas: It was actually inspired by what I went through and dealt with in Rio. And it was just a lot to deal with. I was just tired of talking about it. I wanted to do something about it and make the internet a safer and more positive place. Everything going on today is so negative. Why can't we bring it back to the positive things and make the internet a better place and just be smarter about it?
espnW: What are your specific suggestions or action steps for people to be "smarter" online?
GD: Think about your words. Your words can hurt people -- it can damage someone. People are taking their lives for these things, which are oftentimes just so untrue. You're so much more as a human being.
espnW: How did online harassment directly affect you and your performance?
GD: I was Googling myself ... and I wanted to change myself as a person. I never had to deal with that before. I just wanted those [hurtful things] to go away. I was trying to meet the standards of other people. I was like, "Oh, I should smile more," or, "Maybe I should clap more." It made me just so paranoid about everything.
espnW: That had to be stressful, especially because you were competing in Rio.
GD: Especially competing on such a high-level stage. I mean, it's the Olympics! So I was changing as a person. It really affected me.
espnW: How did you change your habits to please others?
GD: I was just very sad. I wasn't the same energetic Gabby. When I came back to the sport, I was like, "OK, I've matured a little bit," and I tossed a bit more sass into my routine. And everyone was like, "Why isn't she smiling? It doesn't look like she's having fun."
But, no -- I wanted the world to know that this is just mature Gabby. I was sad that people didn't get that. I know people remember me from 2012 -- and I'm still bubbly and energetic, but out on the floor it's just business. I know you're supposed to be this character out on the floor, and I was like, "Let me be who I want to be out on the floor." And just don't do that to me. I wanted everyone to just accept me. I wanted them to just accept the mature, sassy Gabby.
espnW: Who is mature, somewhat sassy Gabby?
GD: I'm still bubbly, energetic and fun. But I've definitely learned to really stand up for myself a lot more. I've learned to brush things off and just ride above the storm. I also learned that you can ride above the storm and stand up for yourself at the same time. For me, I was just done. I was saying to myself, "Just ride above the storm," but I was really hurting. It happens, and I'm doing something about it now. I don't want other people to go through what I went through. It's a big thing.
espnW: What's your first course of action for the Hack Harassment campaign?
GD: First, I'm encouraging people to take the pledge online. I want them to really read it and follow it. It's just so they aren't being a bully online, and just be kinder online. And don't engage in negative behaviors online.
espnW: Many notable people have just disabled their comments on social media. Is that part of the plan? Is that necessary?
GD: I've disabled my comments on certain pictures on Instagram. Or I'll just use the block button more than I want to. It has to be done because people aren't being held accountable. You can't keep doing that to a person. At the same time, I'm a human being and not a target. I'm an athlete, and I can take a few punches, but you can't keep doing that to somebody. You can't keep tearing them down. It really gets into your head and it affects you. It goes beyond that; it goes deep.
espnW: What are your personal resolutions? What do you want to change in the new year?
GD: I just want people to be comfortable in their own skin and not live up to anyone else's standards. Smile the way you want to. Smize if you want to. If you want to vogue, get your vogue on. Just don't be somebody you're not. And that's the main thing: Be yourself. Be confident in yourself. I want to walk in love first of all and don't repay evil with evil.
espnW: You had many celebrities and others stand up and support you during the Games.
GD: That's true. I got a lot of people telling me not to worry about the haters. I was grateful.
Just going from 2012, the whole perspective changed just from one facial expression. I mean, if they thought that was me, then they really don't know me. I'm not that way; I'm never not supportive. I'm always supportive! I'm so happy in the end the good outweighed the bad.