Olympic Gymnast’s Mom Files For Bankruptcy

Gabby Douglas has won two gold medals on behalf of the United States in the 2012 Olympic games. While she has been working to win her athletic competition, her mom has been working hard to win the fight against financial hardship and the threat of foreclosure.

Fighting To Win

Debt is an all consuming problem, and one that can spread to the deepest parts of our lives. Natalie Hawkins is Gabby Douglas’ mother, who has been struggling to raise four children on a single parent’s salary. Hawkins has spent years trying to pay for Olympic training classes for Douglas on meager salary. However, Hawkins’ own student loan debt and several other sources of debt has placed her under a $80,000 debt burden and her home at risk of foreclosure.

Douglas’ mother decided to file for Chapter 13 as a way to stop the threat of losing her family home while she works to repay her debts.  Despite what she knows to be an unfortunate stigma, Hawkins says, “It’s my story, it’s part of me. I’m not even embarrassed about it. It shows that even though I didn’t like to have to do it, I’m glad there was something there for me to be able to protect my home.”