SAN JOSE, Calif. — She paced in front of the balance beam, the sequins on her red, white and black leotard glittering in the arena light, her soft brown eyes locked onto that precarious strip of wood that measures four inches wide and 16.4 feet long.
It was an hour before the start of the final round of the U.S. Olympic gymnastic trials at the SAP Center on Sunday evening, and Gabby Douglas examined the beam closely. For more than a minute, the reigning Olympic gold-medal winner in the women’s all-around continued to walk back and forth in front of the beam—as much of a psychological challenge as a physical one—with her arms folded like a philosopher deep in thought.