(The Root) -- Truth be told, we weren't that inspired by Olympians like Michael Jordan and Carl Lewis. While they dominated their sports like few have ever done, it's commonplace to see African Americans conquer basketball and track and field. This is by no means a putdown, but seeing Jordan and Lewis excel in their chosen arenas was as stimulating as hearing Jay-Z master the rap game.

The same can't be said of extraordinary teen gymnast Gabby Douglas, the first African American to win the individual all-around Olympic gold medal. Watching her fly through the air, twisting and flipping over the various apparatuses, triggers a flood of emotions that ballers and sprinters simply can't unleash (through no fault of their own).

That's why Gabby's impact will extend far beyond sports. Jordan and Lewis served as role models for countless basketball players and track stars who followed, just as Jordan and Lewis had a number of predecessors to emulate. Gabby had Dominique Dawes, the three-time Olympian who in 1996 became the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal.

The number of young black girls who decided to try gymnastics undoubtedly surged thanks to Dawes' emergence. And there's likely to be a new wave of interest, now that Douglas has two gold medals and a chance to win more. But just as Dawes didn't spawn an influx of black Olympic gymnasts, Gabby is unlikely to change the demographics dramatically.

However, Gabby is positioned to change something much more significant -- namely, the realm of possibility. Her performance thus far -- and her remarkable story of dedication, sacrifice and perseverance -- has broadened the horizons of little black girls and little black boys. Grown men and women, too.

"I hope I inspire people," Douglas said after her historic win. "I want to inspire people!" She summed up her message thusly: "If you're having a hard time, never give up! Always keep fighting!"

That sounds as corny as it gets, but it comes from someone who moved across the country at 14 to live with a family she didn't know in a community where few people look like her. We could roll our eyes if she were the heroine of a Disney movie, but hers is a real-life story, gold medal and all. "I have never seen a gymnast climb from an average gymnast to the best in the world in five months," said U.S. Olympic team coordinator Martha Karolyi.

Gabby moved from Virginia Beach, Va., to West Des Moines, Iowa, to train under Liang Chow, who coached Shawn Johnson to Olympic gold in 2008. Asked if he imagined Gabby reaching this point when they began working together two years ago, Chow said, "No."

Gabby's mother, Natalie Hawkins, never envisioned it, either, which provides another important lesson. Hawkins didn't squash the dream and kill the ambition, even though she was fearful and hesitant to let her daughter leave. Instead, recognizing that Gabby was gifted and driven, Hawkins encouraged her child to go for it.

"Letting go of Gabrielle [was] one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," Hawkins said. "But it's now one of the most rewarding things that I've ever gotten to experience ... there's no greater joy than for a parent to see their child reach their dream."

Children can dream a little broader now, seeing themselves in places and positions that they might not have believed beforehand. It doesn't have to be the Olympics, either, just fields that they never thought of before.

It's kind of like President Obama's influence. Not everyone inspired by him will run for the White House, but his election provides fuel for their journey, no matter which destinations they choose. Gabby and other black Olympians in predominantly white sports have the same impact, forcing us to shatter subconscious boundaries.

We know we're better at other things besides, say, basketball, track and field and rap music. But few have provided more evidence on a bigger stage than Gabby. The ripple effect will be felt for decades to come, in ways we can't even imagine.

Deron Snyder's Loose Ball column appears regularly on The Root. Follow him on Twitter and reach him at BlackDoor Ventures, Inc.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

 

Tweet