Dominique Dawes, the ground-breaking gymnast who was the first to win gold at three Olympics (a feat repeated by Simone Biles this year in Paris) and the first African American to win an individual Olympic gold, has been immortalized in her hometown of Maryland with a bronze statue.
The statue was unveiled just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Dawes’ legacy was celebrated. The statue depicts Dawes in a side split on the balance beam, one of her signature events during her roughly 15-year career. The statue was created by Brian Hanlon, known as the “Sports Rodin,” who has created several notable depictions of athletes across the country.
The statue shows her performing her signature side split on the balance beam. Dawes, who has opened several athletic training centers and served as president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, hopes the statue will inspire young people to believe in themselves. “Anything is possible when you choose to work hard and never give up striving to be the best you can be,” she said.
Dawes has also been an advocate for a more holistic approach to women’s gymnastics. “What we experienced in the ’90s, it was evident that it was not a healthy culture,” she said in a recent NPR interview. “I think there’s a perception that there’s a culture change for this generation that’s on the floor competing, I think it’s healthier for them, but we don’t know what’s happening with the younger generations because they still don’t have a voice.”
She aims to change the culture of the sport with her gyms, which focus on health and recreation. “I came from humble beginnings, and I have never lost sight of what matters most and that is the ability to impact future generations,” Dawes said.
Since her retirement, Dawes has opened several athletic training centers and served as president of the Women’s Sports Foundation. She has also advocated for a shift from a win-first mentality in women’s gymnastics to an approach more focused on health and recreation for young women coming up in the sport.
