<p>Affectionately known as 'Awesome Dawesome,' Dawes was a 10-year member of the U.S. national gymnastics team, a three-time Olympian, and a member of the gold-medal-winning "Magnificent Seven" team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. </p><p>The first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, and the first black person of any nationality to win an Olympic-gold-medal in gymnastics, she is also one of only three female American gymnasts to compete in three Olympics, winning medals each time: Barcelona 1992 (bronze), Atlanta 1996 (gold), and Sydney 2000 (bronze). She also won the Olympic bronze medal on floor exercise at the 1996 Atlanta games.</p><p>Owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy, Dominique opened the gym to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. Dawes also holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League, and served as the co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration. Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she recently served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docu-series “Golden”, the journey of USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics.</p><p>Dawes holds her degree from the University of Maryland and in 2023, her hometown of Montgomery County, Maryland will honor her career and legacy with a life size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.</p><p>As a wife, mother of four, Olympian and business owner, Dominique Dawes has transcended the world of sports, politics, entertainment and culture.</p>
Three-Time Olympian and Hall of Fame Gymnast
<ul><li><strong>Success Is a Journey, Not a Destination</strong></li><li>Dominique Dawes won Olympic gold. But for her, success is so much more than medals and accolades: it’s something she worked hard to achieve every day en route to Olympic glory. Her journey in the sport of gymnastics lasted 18 years and in those years she stood strong on numerous podiums, leaving lasting impressions in the hearts of fans. The podium was the destination, but the long-term goal? It’s the moments in between—what she calls the “journey”—that helped her realize the success that she was always striving for. Overcoming the inevitable obstacles, challenges, and doubts are the moments in the journey that build the champion in Dawes. Surrounding herself with the right team, developing the mindset to persevere, and turning negative situations into life lessons is how Dawes realized Success Is a Journey, NOT a Destination.</li><li><strong>Building a Strong Foundation for Success</strong></li><li>Building a solid foundation was one of the keys to Dawes' success. Her emphasis on a solid foundation touches on multiple areas: from healthy lifestyle choices to developing positive self-esteem where she addresses issues such as peer pressures, productive attitudes, and values. The audience will walk away empowered, motivated, and, more importantly, clear on what it takes to build a strong foundation worthy of your dreams.</li></ul><p><br></p>