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

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