Dominique Dawes is a renowned figure in the world of sports, politics, entertainment, and culture. As a three-time Olympian and the first African-American gymnast to win an individual Olympic medal, she has left an indelible mark on the sport. Beyond her athletic achievements, Dawes has continued to inspire, motivate, and lead in various domains.
She is the owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, where she promotes a healthy and compassionate culture in gymnastics. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, she opened her first academy in July 2020 and plans to open a second location in 2023. Dawes also holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League and has served as the co-chair of the President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration alongside Drew Brees.
In addition to her involvement in sports and politics, Dawes has ventured into the entertainment industry. She recently served as an Executive Producer of the Peacock docu-series "Golden," which follows the journey of USA's elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics. The series has been nominated for a Sports Emmy. Dawes holds a degree from the University of Maryland and was inducted into UMD's prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022. Her hometown of Montgomery County, Maryland, will honor her career and legacy with a life-size statue in 2023.
As a wife, mother of four, Olympian, and business owner, Dominique Dawes embodies the essence of success in various facets of life. She is a sought-after speaker, with topics ranging from envisioning one's full potential to building a strong foundation for success. Dawes also addresses important issues such as women's health and heart disease, using her platform to advocate for smart nutrition, exercise, and healthy habits.
With her remarkable journey and achievements, Dominique Dawes continues to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles. She serves as a shining example of how success is not merely a destination but an ongoing journey of growth, perseverance, and resilience.
ENVISION is Dawes’ signature message. It is also the title of her motivational line of products. ENVISION is an acronym for the 8 principles that helped Dawes become successful in and out of the athletic arena. She crafts this speech specifically to motivate and empower the audience to envision greatness in their own lives. The core focuses are passion, planning, and perseverance.
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.
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.
Dominique Dawes has worked with the American Heart Association as the spokesperson for the Choose to Move program for years, advancing their goal of informing everyone on how to combat cardiovascular disease. In this keynote presentation, she focuses on the benefits of smart nutrition, everyday exercise, and commonsense core habits that each of us can implement to avoid the number one killer of women: cardiovascular disease.
