Gabby Douglas Shines At VMA Awards, Flips Across Stage To Alicia Keys' 'Girl On Fire' (VIDEO)

Girl On Fire! Olympic Gymnast Guest Stars During Alicia Keys' VMA Performance

America's Golden Girl, Gabby Douglas, leapt back onto the national stage during Thursday's MTV Video Music Awards with an acrobatic guest performance during Alicia Key's "Girl On Fire" debut.

The 16-year-old gymnast, who won gold in the London Olympics this summer, backflipped her way across the Staples Center stage, appearing after Nicki Minaj rapped the line, "'Cuz I win the gold like Gabby."

Wearing black leather leggings and a sparkling black top, Douglas grinned as the performed her graceful tumbling routine to the delight of the VMA crowd. As she walked backstage, she and singer Keys exchanged high fives.

After the performance, Douglas mingled with the artists backstage, taking pictures with Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Rihanna.

Douglas and her Fierce Five gymnastics teammates are in the midst of a star-studded victory tour across the U.S., following their golden efforts in London. Prior to their arrival at the VMA's--where the team introduced Keys' set--the teens made stops at the "David Letterman Show" and The New York Stock Exchange.

Douglas also appeared with first lady Michele Obama on the "Tonight Show" and led the crowd at the Democratic National Convention in the Pledge of Allegiance on the convention's second day.

It was a welcome bit of positive publicity for the teen, who made not-so-happy headlines in August after accusing her old gym of racism and bullying during a taping with Oprah. Her coaches vigorously denied the claims.

The MTV awards ceremony was originally scheduled to conflict with President Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. However, show organizers moved the East Coast broadcast up an hour to compensate.

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