Gabrielle "Gabby" McLaughlin was born on March 27, 2002 in California. She currently lives in Texas with her parents, Patrick and Olivia McLaughlin, a brother and two chihuahuas. Gabrielle is a student at Lakeland Christian Academy and she will graduate from high school in 2020. She was a Girl Scout volunteer where she completed two years as a brownie, two years as a junior and earned a Bronze Award.

Gabrielle's mom put her in gymnastics because she was a very active child, constantly climbing and jumping off furniture. She thought it would be a good and safe place for Gabrielle to release all of her active energy. Gabrielle started recreational gymnastics at a local gym. Following her level 4 season in 2009, Gabrielle started training at Gym-Max Gymnastics in Costa Mesa, CA under coaches Howie and Jenny Liang.

As a level 6 gymnast in 2012, Gabrielle placed second in the all-around and first on floor exercise at the State Championships. She tested out of level 7 and quickly moved up to level 8 for the 2013 season. At the State Championships, she finished second in the all-around with a 37.225, second on uneven bars and third on balance beam. Gabrielle qualified to the Region 1 Championships. In 2014 as a level 9 gymnast, Gabrielle placed fifth on floor exercise at the State Championships and qualified to Regionals.

Gabrielle moved up to level 10 for the 2015 season where she qualified to the Region 1 Championships. In the summer of 2015, Gabrielle and her family relocated to Texas, so Gabrielle started training at Texas Dreams Gymnastics in Coppell, TX.

In 2016, Gabrielle qualified to the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup in Newark, NJ after winning the all-around title with a 37.075 at the Gliders Invitational. At the State Championships, Gabrielle placed third in the all-around with a 37.600, second on balance beam and third on uneven bars. She did really well at the Region 3 Championships, finishing eighth in the all-around with a 37.150, second on floor exercise and third on uneven bars. She was the first alternate for the Junior Olympic Nationals. In 2017, Gabrielle placed fourth in the all-around with a 37.600 and fourth on vault and balance beam at the State Championships. At the Region 3 Championships, she placed third in the all-around with a 37.200, first on floor exercise and fourth on vault and uneven bars. Gabrielle qualified to the Junior Olympic Nationals in Indianapolis, IN.

Gabrielle had a great 2018 season where she placed third in the all-around with a 37.600 and third on floor exercise at the State Championships. At the Region 3 Championships, she finished fourth in the all-around with a 37.625 and second on floor exercise. She qualified to the Junior Olympic Nationals in Columbus, OH again, finishing 13th overall with a 37.775 and seventh on floor exercise.

Gabrielle trains 28 hours per week at Texas Dreams Gymnastics in Coppell, TX under coaches Kiki Parenteau, Michelle Ernst and Kait Dewey. Gabrielle's long-term goal is to obtain a Division I college gymnastics scholarship.