Dominique Dawes

Dominique Dawes 1

Dominique Dawes (born November 20, 1976) is a retired American artistic gymnast. She is best known for her performances with the United States women's national gymnastics team in the 1990s. Dawes was a member of the gold-medal-winning "Magnificent Seven" team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a three-time Olympian, having competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Early Life

Dominique Margaux Dawes was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. She began gymnastics at the age of six and quickly rose through the ranks of the sport. Dawes trained at Hill's Gymnastics in Gaithersburg, Maryland, under the guidance of coach Kelli Hill.

Gymnastics Career

Dawes made her debut on the national stage at the age of 10. She first gained national attention at the 1991 U.S. National Championships, where she placed third in the all-around competition. Her breakthrough came in 1992 when she was selected for the U.S. Olympic team.

1992 Summer Olympics

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Dawes and her teammates won a bronze medal in the team competition. She also placed 25th in the individual all-around.

1996 Summer Olympics

Dawes' most notable achievement came at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. As a member of the "Magnificent Seven," she helped the U.S. team win its first-ever gold medal in the team competition. Dawes also placed 17th in the individual all-around and won a bronze medal on the floor exercise.

2000 Summer Olympics

Dawes returned to the Olympics in 2000, competing in Sydney, Australia. The U.S. team finished fourth in the team competition, and Dawes placed 19th in the individual all-around.

Post-Gymnastics Career

After retiring from competitive gymnastics, Dawes pursued a career in acting, modeling, and public speaking. She has appeared in various television shows and commercials and has been an advocate for youth sports and physical fitness. Dawes also served as the co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

Personal Life

Dawes is married to Jeff Thompson, and the couple has four children. She continues to be involved in gymnastics through her Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy, which aims to inspire and train young gymnasts.

Legacy

Dominique Dawes is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of American gymnastics. Her contributions to the sport have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including induction into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

See Also

• United States women's national gymnastics team
• 1996 Summer Olympics
• Magnificent Seven (gymnastics)
• Hill's Gymnastics