Dominique DAWES

Dominique Dawes competed at three Olympic Games for the USA, one of only three US women to compete at three Olympics (along with Linda Metheny and Muriel Davis-Grossfeld). Dawes won four Olympic medals, with gold in the 1996 team event, team bronzes in 1992 and 2000, and individual bronze on floor in 1996. She also won four medals at the World Championships, with silvers on beam and uneven bars in 1993, team silver in 1994, and a beam bronze in 1996. Between 1991-96 Dawes won 15 US Championships, winning the all-around title in 1994. Dawes was a pioneer as the first African-American to win an individual medal in Olympic gymnastics.

After her gymnastics ended, Dawes graduated from the University of Maryland in 2002. She pursued a career in acting and modeling, appearing on Broadway in a revival of “Grease,” and in one of Prince’s music videos. From 2004-06 Dawes served as President of the Women’s Sports Federation.