As Gabby Douglas went for gold, dozens of young gymnasts at Texas Dreams Gymnastics in Coppell watched and dreamed of one day following her on the world stage.
Among them, was 13-year-old Bailie Key, who hopes to be part of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"I want to do it because of all the challenges it gives me," she said.
Kennedy Baker, 16, of Flower Mound, said she and Douglas are good friends and have known each other since they were about 9 years old.
"She killed it, she crushed it, she did so good," Baker said. "I'm so proud of her."
Baker, who narrowly missed making this year's Olympic team, now hopes of making the 2016 team. And her longtime friend can serve as her inspiration.
"I was really rooting for her," Baker said of Douglas. "She went, and she delivered."
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Coach Kim Zmeskal-Burdette knows all about being in the Olympics. She took home a bronze medal in Barcelona back in 1992.
"The biggest part of being in any competition is try to keep yourself as normal as possible," she said.
Now Zmeskal-Burdette said she hopes to be part of the games as a coach.
"When I see them out there performing in that spotlight, it makes my heart race and light up for them," she said.
