2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in 8 years at the American Classic

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2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in 8 years at the American Classic

2024-04-28 09:54 Last Updated At：10:01

KATY, Texas (AP) — Gabby Douglas is officially back.

Whether the gymnastics star's return to the sport carries all the way to the Paris Olympics remains to be seen.

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Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

KATY, Texas (AP) — Gabby Douglas is officially back.

Joscelyn Roberson waits to compete on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee waits to compete on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic gymnastics meet, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, center, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, right, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, gets a hug from coach Valeri Liukin as Anna Kotchneva smiles after competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, talks with Anna Kotchneva after competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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KATY, Texas (AP) — Gabby Douglas is officially back.

Joscelyn Roberson waits to compete on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee waits to compete on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic gymnastics meet, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, center, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, right, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, gets a hug from coach Valeri Liukin as Anna Kotchneva smiles after competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, talks with Anna Kotchneva after competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Douglas, who became the first Black woman to win the Olympic all-around title when she triumphed in London in 2012, competed for the first time in eight years on Saturday at the American Classic.

The 28-year-old looked rusty in spots and promising in others while posting a score of 50.65 in the all-around. Douglas qualified in multiple events for the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, next month. She will get another chance to qualify for the all-around competition at nationals when she takes the floor at the the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 18.

Douglas last competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she helped the Americans claim a second straight gold in the team competition. She took an extended break from the sport but never officially retired. The itch to come back returned while watching the 2022 U.S. Championships, and she's spent the better part of the last two years training in the Dallas area with an eye toward trying to make the five-woman U.S. team that will be heavily favored to win gold in Paris this summer.

Her comeback, however, has been shrouded in mystery. She was supposed to compete at Winter Cup in February but she pulled out of the competition just days before after testing positive for COVID-19. She has limited press exposure and unlike 2020 Olympic gold medalist Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey — both of whom competed at American Classic — she opted not to participate in podium training on Friday.

Douglas walked out onto the floor about an hour before competition and showed flashes of what turned her into a star in London. Her double-twisting Yurchenko on vault had plenty of amplitude and on bars — her best event — she had the pieces of a routine that would certainly be competitive at the elite level.

The challenge will be finding a way to put all the pieces together consistently.

Douglas came off bars twice and her floor routine lacked the crispness and endurance to stack up with what will be required for anyone hoping to make a serious bid for the Olympic team.

There is time for Douglas, but not much. The U.S. Classic is in three weeks. The U.S. Championships are in five and the Olympic Trials await in Minneapolis in late June.

Carey, who won gold on floor exercise in Tokyo, captured the all-around with a score of 55.000 while also recording the top scores on vault and floor. Lee, who has dealt with kidney-related health issues the last two years, put together a dazzling beam routine to win easily with a score of 14.300.

This story has been corrected to show that Suni Lee competed won the balance beam competition. A previous version she competed and won on the uneven bars.

AP Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Israel orders new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it prepares to expand operations

2024-05-11 17:09 Last Updated At：17:11

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation and adding that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.

Israel has now evacuated the eastern third of Rafah, pushing the operation to the edges of the heavily populated central area, although Israel’s move into the city has so far been short of the full-scale invasion that it planned.

The order comes in the face of heavy international opposition and criticism. U.S. President Joe Biden has already said he will not provide offensive weapons to Israel for Rafah, and on Friday the U.S. said there was “reasonable” evidence that Israel had breached international law protecting civilians in the way it conducted its war against Hamas — the strongest statement that the Biden administration has yet made on the matter.

The United Nations and other agencies have warned for weeks that an Israeli assault on Rafah, which borders Egypt near the main aid entry points, would cripple humanitarian operations and cause a disastrous surge in civilian casualties.

More than 1.4 million Palestinians — half of Gaza’s population — have been sheltering in Rafah, most after fleeing Israel’s offensives elsewhere. Considered the last refuge in the strip, the evacuations are forcing people to return north where areas are devastated by previous Israeli attacks. Aid agencies estimate that 110,000 had done so before Saturday's order that adds a further 40,000 to that number.

People have been displaced multiple times and there are few places left in the embattled strip to move to. Those fleeing fighting earlier this week erected new tent camps in the city of Khan Younis — which was half destroyed in an earlier Israeli offensive — and the city of Deir al-Balah, straining infrastructure.

Georgios Petropoulos, an official with the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Rafah, said humanitarian workers had no supplies to help them set up in new locations. “We simply have no tents, we have no blankets, no bedding, none of the items that you would expect a population on the move to be able to get from the humanitarian system,” he said.

Israeli troops have captured the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, forcing it to shut down. Rafah was the main point of entry for fuel.

The World Food Program has warned that it will run out of food for distribution in southern Gaza by Saturday, Petropoulos said. Aid groups have said fuel will also be depleted soon, forcing hospitals to shut down critical operations and bringing to a halt trucks delivering aid across south and central Gaza.

Heavy fighting is also underway in northern Gaza, where Hamas appeared to have once again regrouped in an area where Israel has already launched punishing assaults. Israeli Army spokesman Avichay Adraee told Palestinians in Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya cities and the surrounding areas to leave their homes and head to shelters in the west of Gaza City, warning that people were in “a dangerous combat zone” and that Israel was going to strike with “great force.”

Battles erupted this week in the Zeitoun area on the outskirts of Gaza City. Northern Gaza was the first target of the ground offensive. Israel said late last year that it had mostly dismantled Hamas in the area.

The United Nations agency supporting people in Gaza, known as UNRWA, said that some 300,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders in Rafah and Jabaliya, but the numbers could likely be more as these are very built-up areas.

“We’re extremely concerned that these evacuation orders have come both towards central Rafah and Jabaliya,” Louise Wateridge, UNRWA spokesperson in Rafah, told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, strikes are continuing across Gaza.

At least 19 people, including eight women and eight children, were killed overnight in central Gaza in strikes that hit the areas of Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al Balah, according to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah and an Associated Press journalist who counted the bodies.

Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 34,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.

Mednick reported from Tel Aviv and Magdy reported from Cairo

2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in 8 years at the American Classic

2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas competes for the first time in 8 years at the American Classic

KATY, Texas (AP) — Gabby Douglas is officially back.

Joscelyn Roberson waits to compete on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee waits to compete on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic gymnastics meet, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, center, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, right, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, gets a hug from coach Valeri Liukin as Anna Kotchneva smiles after competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, talks with Anna Kotchneva after competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

KATY, Texas (AP) — Gabby Douglas is officially back.

Joscelyn Roberson waits to compete on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Joscelyn Roberson competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jade Carey competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee competes on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Sunisa Lee waits to compete on the blance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic gymnastics meet, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, center, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, right, talks with Anna Kotchneva during a break in competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, gets a hug from coach Valeri Liukin as Anna Kotchneva smiles after competition at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the balance beam at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas, left, talks with Anna Kotchneva after competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas performs her floor routine while competing at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Gabby Douglas competes on the vault at the American Classic Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Katy, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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