Dominique Dawes
Dominique Dawes is a retired American artistic gymnast who made history as the first African American to represent the United States in Olympic gymnastics.
Gymnast
November 20, 1976
Scorpio
48
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Dominique Margaux Dawes, also known as ‘Awesome Dawesome,’ is a renowned retired American artistic gymnast. She was a prominent member of the U.S. national gymnastics team for a decade, earning the title of 1994 U.S. all-around senior National Champion. As a three-time Olympian, Dawes secured silver and bronze medals in the World Championships and was part of the gold-medal-winning “Magnificent Seven” team. Notably, she was the first African American to represent the United States in Olympic gymnastics.
Dawes established the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academy in Clarksburg, Maryland, and later expanded with a second location in Rockville, Maryland. She remains a strong advocate for equal opportunities in sports, actively supporting programs that inspire women and girls to engage in athletic pursuits.