Montgomery County is honoring Dominique Dawes, a three-time Olympic medalist in gymnastics and a Silver Spring native, with a sculpture at the new Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center on Tuesday, July 23.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz will present the sculpture at noon. According to Montgomery County Parks and Recreation spokesperson Monika Hammer, Dawes will be in attendance for the unveiling alongside Brian Hanlon, the artist behind the installation.
Dawes, who attended both Montgomery Blair High School and Gaithersburg High School, won medals with three U.S. Olympic Gymnastics teams in 1992, 1996 and 2000, with the team winning gold in 1996. According to a press release from Montgomery County, Dawes is one of just three female American gymnasts to compete in three Olympics.
Dawes is also a graduate of the University of Maryland and has been elected to the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame and to the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the USA Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Since retiring from the sport, Dawes has opened up multiple locations of her Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy throughout Maryland, with sites in Rockville and Clarksburg in Montgomery County and an upcoming Howard County studio in Columbia. The academy strives to “empower children” through gymnastics.
Outside of gymnastics, Dawes has enjoyed success in several avenues. She appeared in Prince’s music video for the song “Betcha by Golly Wow” and in Missy Elliot’s 2006 music video for the song “We Run This.” She has also made a brief appearance on Broadway and helped provide coverage for multiple Olympics.
Dawes has also found success on the political stage. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Dawes to be co-chair, alongside New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees, of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
