The gymnast has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Four of America’s Final Five Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts were on hand to present Beyoncé with the Best Female Video Award at the VMAs, with Gabby Douglas noticeably absent.
The 20-year-old gymnast checked herself in to a hospital prior to the show.
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Simone Biles told the crowd: “The fifth member of our team, Gabby Douglas, is having medical issues and unfortunately couldn't make it tonight. Feel better, Gabby!’”
Douglas tweeted a photo Sunday afternoon, saying: “Out of hospital & resting comfortably! #finalfive sad I can't be with u 2 present tonight.”
Out of hospital&resting comfortably! #FinalFive sad I can't be with u 2 present tonite? @MTV thank u xoxo ? #VMAs pic.twitter.com/cIfYOIcoL6
— Gabrielle Douglas (@gabrielledoug) August 28, 2016
Her publicist explained in a statement: "Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury."
The Olympics were a big theme of Sunday night’s award show in New York City.
Jimmy Fallon closed the VMAs while dressed up as Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, complete with dyed silver hair.
"I'm the one who gave Adele the flip phone. I taught Drake the Hotline Bling dance. I had a 30-way with Kanye West. I made Lemonade with Beyonce. I'm Reezy with the good hair," he joked.
Read: As the Olympics Come to a Close, Everyone Wants a Photo With Simone Biles
Lochte’s teammate Michael Phelps got a kick out of Fallon's joke and was filmed mouthing "awesome."
Phelps also revealed what he was listening to while making that now-infamous face he made at rival swimmer South Africa’s Chad le Clos in Rio.
"I was in the zone with Future's track ‘Stick Talk’ blaring in my headphones,” he said.
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