In the upcoming October issue of Vanity Fair, Gabby Douglas reveals even more racial mistreatment during her years at the Excalibur Gym. One verbally hurtful detail that she revealed to Vanity Fair was that she was told by an Excalibur staff member at a party in 2010 to get a "nose job" in order to fix its flatness. Gabby's sister Arielle said that this insensitive remark further worsened Gabby's confidence in herself and her appearance, as she was already suffering from other verbal insults she had received at the gym.
The Head Coach of Excalibur Gym, Dena Walker, did in fact confirm that the remark was made to Gabby about her nose, but that it was meant as a joke. Gabby's former coach and CEO of Excalibur gym, Gustavo Maure, released the following comment to Vanity Fair via email, defending the gym's honor and reputation.
"We did with Gabby far beyond what are our coaches' duties. We are proud of what we did. How is it possible . . . to not recognize that she reached [her] level with our help, our economic support, our passion and our love?"
In another statement made to E! News, Maure stated:
"We've had more African Americans in elite and on the national team than any other gym in the country. Her African American former teammates will answer this serious accusation. (1st statement untruth, she was not the only African American gymnast training in the gym) We are good people. We never were knowingly involved in any type of bullying or racist treatment, like she is accusing Excalibur."
