05:45 PM EDT 04/13/2013
Summer Olympics 2012
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Gabby Douglas: I Nearly Quit Gymnastics to Work at Chick-fil-A!
Originally posted 11/30/2012 07:55AM
Around this time last year, Gabby Douglas dropped a bomb on her coaches and family: She wanted to quit gymnastics – and maybe try getting a job at Chick-fil-A.
"What," she says now, "was I thinking?"
Of course, she didn't. And the rest is history.
Four months after becoming the first black woman ever to win Olympic gold in individual all-around gymnastics, Douglas, 16, is looking back on her magical year – one that includes a new memoir Grace, Gold, & Glory: My Leap of Faith, to be published Dec. 4, and excerpted exclusively in PEOPLE this week.
"My life has changed so much," says the bubbly former PEOPLE cover girl, who spent the morning before Thanksgiving chilling with her big sister, Arielle, 23, in her sweats and chatting with PEOPLE in her midtown Manhattan hotel. "It's been really fun."
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Queen Elizabeth's Designer Angela Kelly Reveals What It's Like to Dress the Royal
Originally posted 11/05/2012 01:00PM
Queen Elizabeth set the tone for the London Summer Olympics when she appeared to jump out of a helicopter during the Games' Opening Ceremony.
With everyone – including her seamstress – kept in the dark about her two identical gowns – one for the Queen and one for her brave stunt double – the story behind the Queen's outfit for that unforgettable moment is finally being revealed.
In the book Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe, which designer Angela Kelly – personal assistant, adviser and curator to Queen Elizabeth II – has penned to mark the Queen's dresses in her 60th year on the throne, readers get a glimpse of what it's like to dress the royal.
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McKayla Maroney & Aly Raisman Injured During Routine
Originally posted 09/10/2012 03:05PM
Even members of the "Fab Five" can take a fall.
Olympians McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman were both injured while performing on uneven bars during Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics in Ontario, Calif., over the weekend.
Maroney – who took home one gold and one silver medal following this summer's Olympic Games in London – fell following a simple dismount from the bars. The 16-year-old 2011 world vault champion had to be carried out of the arena by medics.
Raisman – who took home two gold medals and one bronze in London – suffered a fall after she failed to land a Shaposhnikova.
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Ryan Lochte Has a 'Huge Crush' on Blake Lively
Originally posted 09/08/2012 06:00PM
Watch out Ryan Reynolds – America's most eligible bachelor, Ryan Lochte, is a Gossip Girl fan!
"I have a huge crush on Blake Lively. She's drop-dead gorgeous," Lochte, 28, told PEOPLE at New York's Ainsworth Park at the Windsor Custom Clothes Fashion's Night Out event. "I haven't met her yet. If I do, I'd definitely be starstruck. She makes my toes curl."
The Olympic gold medalist, who is on a strict diet and trains about six hours a day during competitions, admits he'd break his healthy regimen for Lively, who has a passion for baking sweets and has been linked to Reynolds since Oct. 2011.
"For her, I would totally cheat [on my diet]," he says. "I love homemade food, but I do have to keep to my regimen because I'm still training for the 2016 Olympics."
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Gabby Douglas to Publish Inspirational Memoir
Originally posted 09/06/2012 08:35AM
Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas announced Thursday that she will write an "inspirational memoir," planned for December 2012 publication.
The book, to be titled Grace, Gold and Glory, My Leap of Faith, will chronicle the 16-year-old's early life, how she left her family in Virginia at age 12 to train 3,000 miles away and her path to gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Upon the announcement, Douglas said, "Even before I competed in the Olympics, I always wanted to write a book."
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Michael Phelps Celebrates His Retirement with Las Vegas Pool Party
Originally posted 09/03/2012 05:15PM
After a storied career in which he won 18 Olympic gold medals, and 22 medals overall, Michael Phelps celebrated his retirement from competitive swimming this weekend at – what else? – a pool party.
Phelps, 27, who became a legend in Athens, Beijing and London, chose Las Vegas as the city for his send-off, enjoying a raucous Saturday afternoon at the Encore Beach Club with friends, fans and fellow swimmers – including his training partner and close friend Allison Schmitt.
The Maryland native was grinning ear to ear as the club's bikini-clad servers gave him a special cake paying tribute to his 22 medals, the most won by any Olympian in history.
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Prince William Pulls a McKayla Maroney
Originally posted 08/31/2012 09:30AM
Prince William is not impressed!
The Duke of Cambridge was photographed on Wednesday with an expression similar to what made Team USA gymnast McKayla Maroney an Internet sensation.
After losing the gold medal in the vault finals at the Summer Games in London, Maroney's less-than-thrilled mug spoke volumes about settling for the silver.
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Prince Harry, William & Kate Attending Several Paralympic Olympic Events
Originally posted 08/29/2012 11:15AM
The Olympic Summer is not quite over for the British royals.
Prince Harry, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William are set to attend a bevy of events to support the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which begin on Wednesday.
William and Kate, both 30, will attend the opening ceremonies for the international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete in their roles as Official Ambassadors for Paralympics GB.
On Thursday, the two have an action packed day planned at Olympic Park, where they will attend goalball, track and swimming events. Over the weekend, they are expected to attend the Games's largest sporting event, athletics, during which 1,100 athletes compete for 170 gold medals.
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Aly Raisman Gets a Super-Sweet Wedding Proposal
Originally posted 08/28/2012 06:00AM
Would her gold medals go with her wedding gown?
Three-time medalist Aly Raisman received a really sweet proposal while signing autographs at Office Depot in Los Angeles on Friday.
A fan jokingly asked for the 18-year-old gymnast's hand in marriage – with a Ring Pop!
"I'll take the Ring Pop!" Raisman smiled as she responded.
Another young gymnast told the Olympian that, just as Raisman did at the London Games, she too had won a gold medal for her floor routine during a competition.
"Me too! High five! Good luck!" Raisman replied.
Besides meeting fans, Raisman also helped children from a Los Angeles-area charity shop for back-to-school supplies and get excited for the new school year.
– Melody Chiu
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Ryan Lochte Lands Cameo on 90210
Originally posted 08/14/2012 06:45PM
Going along with Ryan Lochte's expected big move to Los Angeles, he'll be featured on the show named after the city's most prominent zip code.
The five-time Olympic gold medalist, 28, will play himself on an episode of the CW's teen drama 90210 on Oct. 29, the network announced Tuesday.
This will be a step in a different direction from what was expected by the professional athlete, who has expressed interest in doing reality TV such as Dancing with the Stars.
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