Why Gabby Douglas’s Fav Accessory Is Her Gold Medal
Every girl has a favorite accessory. What if yours was an Olympic gold medal? This weekend is all about celebrating girl power, and these 8 incredible teenage athletes managed to take home gold medals before the age of 20.
Martha Bissah
Age: 17
Country: Ghana
Competition: 2014 Summer Youth Olympics
Sport: 800 meter race
Special accomplishments: Ran 800 meters in 2:04.90, a junior Olympic record
Claressa Shields
Age: 19
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2012 Summer Olympics
Sport: Boxing
Special accomplishments: Won the gold medal after defeating Russian boxer Nedezda Torlopova 19-12
Mikaela Shiffrin
Age: 18
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2014 Winter Olympics
Sport: Slalom skiing
Special accomplishments: Became the youngest slalom champion in Olympic history just 3 weeks before her 19th birthday
Gabby Douglas
Age: 19
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2012 Summer Olympics
Sport: Artistic individual and team all-around gymnastics
Special accomplishments: After winning the team all-around gold medal as part of the "Fierce Five," Gabby went on to win the individual gold medal, becoming the first woman of color to win the event
Adelina Sotnikova
Age: 18
Country: Russia
Competition: 2014 Winter Olympics
Sport: Figure skating
Special accomplishments: Managed to beat out reigning gold medalist Kim Yuna 224.59 to 219.11 in a defeat that stunned viewers
Katie Ledecky
Age: 17
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2012 Summer Olympics
Sport: 800-meter freestyle swimming
Special accomplishments: Won gold by more than 4 seconds
Missy Franklin
Age: 19
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2012 Summer Olympics
Sport: 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke, 4 x 200-meter freestyle, 4 x 100-meter medley relay
Special accomplishments: In her first Olympics showing won a silver medal and FOUR gold medals
Chloe Kim
Age: 14
Country: U.S.A.
Competition: 2015 Winter X Games
Sport: SuperPipe snowboarding
Special accomplishments: Is the youngest gold medalist ever at a winter X Games event