On Saturday, former Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas staged an impressive comeback at the American Classic in Katy, Texas. The three-time gold medalist successfully qualified for the U.S. Championships, putting her on track to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

Douglas, whose last gymnastics competition was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finished 10th in the all-around at the American Classic. However, her scores on the vault and the balance beam secured her qualification to compete in these two events at the U.S. Championships, which will be held from May 30 to June 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. To compete in all four events at nationals, Douglas will need to file a petition.

The all-around competition at the American Classic was won by Jade Carey, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the floor exercise. While Douglas' performance at the event had limited direct impact on her chances of making the Paris team, it served as a crucial stepping stone and provided a glimpse of her progress during this comeback.

Douglas faced some challenges throughout the competition. She had a shaky start on the floor exercise, where she received a score of 11.450 after putting her hands down and going out of bounds. However, her performance on the vault was outstanding. Douglas executed an enormous double-twisting Yurchenko, earning a score of 14.000 - a score that the U.S. women's team would happily accept in the final competition in Paris.

Despite her strengths, Douglas still has room for improvement on the uneven bars, her signature event. She came off the bars twice, resulting in a score of 11.850. However, in the final rotation, Douglas delivered a clutch performance on the balance beam, securing a score of 13.350 and earning her place at the U.S. Championships.

At 28 years old, Douglas was the oldest athlete on the competition floor. Initially, she planned to make her comeback at the Winter Cup in February but had to withdraw due to a positive Covid test. She posted her disappointment on Instagram and expressed her eagerness to return to the competition floor.

Douglas, the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, helped the U.S. women's team clinch their second consecutive victory in the team event at the 2016 Olympics, earning her a third Olympic gold medal.

Another gymnast attempting to make a comeback is reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist Suni Lee. Lee also competed at the American Classic, showcasing her skills on the balance beam and vault. This marked the first time Lee and Douglas had competed against each other in senior competition. Lee has been dealing with kidney issues since last year, but her routines on Saturday showed improvement from her performance at the Winter Cup.

The next step in the qualification process for the Paris Olympics is the Core Hydration Classic, scheduled to take place in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 17 and 18. Both Douglas and Lee, along with other gymnasts, will be vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. If Douglas is selected, she will become the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to make three Olympic teams. Simone Biles, Douglas' Rio teammate, is also eyeing her third Olympic team.

The final gymnasts representing the U.S. in Paris will be determined at the Olympic trials in Minneapolis at the end of June. The athletes who will compete at the trials will be decided four weeks earlier at the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth.

Gabby Douglas' comeback is an inspiring story, and fans eagerly await her journey to qualify for the Paris Olympics.