NORFOLK, Va. -- Court records show that the mother of Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas filed for bankruptcy this year in Virginia.
The filing was first reported by TMZ, a day after it was revealed that the parents of fellow U.S. Olympian Ryan Lochte were facing foreclosure in Florida.Documents filed in January in the Eastern District of Virginia show that Douglas' mother, Natalie Hawkins, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which allows people to reorganize their finances and pay down debt over several years.Douglas has been one of the most popular athletes at the Olympics in London, becoming the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in gymnastics. The 4-foot-11 16-year-old has taken home two gold medals so far and has become an international superstar.She stands to earn millions of dollars from endorsement deals and other ventures. She's already slated to appear on the cover of a Corn Flakes box.The bankruptcy filings list Hawkins as having assets totaling $163,706, with a townhouse in Virginia Beach and a 2007 Nissan Maxima accounting for the bulk of it."It's my story, it's part of me," Hawkins said Sunday in London. "I'm glad there was something there for me to be able to protect my home."Hawkins is separated from her husband and lists income of about $2,500, including Social Security disability benefits and child support.She went on long-term medical disability in 2009.An order issued in March says Hawkins is to pay $400 a month toward her debts over a nearly five-year period.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
