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Gabby Douglas Updates Fans After Missing MTV VMAs for Health Issue

Good as gold! Gabby Douglas took to Instagram on Tuesday, August 30, to update fans about her improving health after she missed the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards because of a dental emergency.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Health Scares

Gabby Douglas
U.S. Olympian Gabby Douglas Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

The Olympic gymnast — who recently snagged another gold medal in the team competition at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro — shared a photo of herself lying down in a chair at the dentist’s office and offered an explanation for her absence at the VMAs.

“Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I’m doing ok!” the 20-year-old athlete wrote. “I had a complication from a prior injury that caused a cyst to grow on a bone in my mouth.”

She continued: “Got it removed and feeling much better now! Thanks for all your concerns and prayers 😘 and HUGE thank you to the doctors that have taken care of me these last four days! 🙏🏾😁 ❤️ #ontheroadtorecovery #butIstillgottagetthesewisdomteethout😩.”

Related: PHOTOS: Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?

As viewers saw Sunday night, Douglas’ four fellow Final Five members, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez, all attended the pop culture event, where they received a gracious heroines’ welcome. At the ceremony, the girls presented the award for Best Female Video to Beyoncé.

Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez
Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez (from left) present an award onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. Kevin Mazur/WireImage

“The fifth member of our team, Gabby Douglas, is having medical issues, and unfortunately couldn’t make it tonight,” Biles, 19, told the audience before handing over the Moonman to Queen Bey for her smash “Hold Up.” “Feel better, Gabby.”

Hours before the show began, a rep for Douglas confirmed to Us Weekly that the Douglas Family Gold star was hospitalized for an infection stemming from a serious mouth injury.

Related: PHOTOS: Olympic Athletes Turned TV and Movie Stars

“Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury,” her rep told Us Sunday evening. “She continues to have deep swelling and adverse reactions to medications.”

Prior to Douglas’ health scare, she received unnecessary flak for not putting her hand over her heart as the National Anthem played during a medal ceremony in Rio. On August 10, she apologized via social media.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebs Fight Back on Twitter!

“First I want to say thank you everyone for all your support!” Douglas captioned an emoji of herself via Twitter. “It’s a huge honor for me to be able to represent #TeamUSA.”

“In response to a few tweets I saw tonight, I always stand at attention out of respect for our country whenever the national anthem is played,” she added. “I never meant any disrespect and apologize if I offended anyone. I’m so overwhelmed at what our team accomplished today and overjoyed that we were able to bring home another gold for our country!”

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