Black History

Dominique Dawes: The Golden Journey of a Gymnastics Pioneer

Dawes’s impact on gymnastics extends beyond her Olympic achievements. After the 1996 Games, she continued to compete and inspire. She participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, further cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s greats.

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2024

Tamara Shloh

Dominique Dawes. File photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

Dominique Dawes was born on Nov. 20, 1976, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

She was six years old when she discovered she loved gymnastics. Her parents, Don and Loretta Dawes, recognized her natural talent and enrolled her in gymnastics classes. Under the guidance of coach Kelli Hill, Dawes’s skills quickly improved.

Dawes’s dedication and hard work paid off as she began to make a name for herself in national competitions. At just 10 years old, she competed in her first junior national championships. She placed 17th in the all-around junior division at her first U.S. National Championships in 1988. In 1989, she competed in her first international meet, the Konica Grand Prix in Australia. By the early 1990s, she was achieving success both nationally and internationally. Dawes placed 3rd in the all-around in the junior division at the 1990 U.S. National Championships.

At the 1992 USA vs. Japan dual meet, Dawes, then 15 years old, received a standing ovation after a resounding floor routine in which she revived the back-to-back tumbling revolutionized by Soviet star Oksana Omelianchik. The judges were equally impressed and gave her a perfect 10. And even though she was not part of the 1991 World Championship team, she continued to move up on the national and international scene throughout 1991 and 1992.

Dawes’s career reached new heights when she competed in her first Olympics at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Although she was just 15 years old, Dawes performed with the confidence and skill of a seasoned gymnast. She played a crucial role in helping the U.S. team secure a bronze medal.

However, it was the 1996 Atlanta Olympics that solidified her place in history. As a member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first U.S. women’s gymnastics team to win gold in the team competition, Dawes’s contributions were critical. Her performance during the floor exercise earned her widespread praise and a place in the hearts of gymnastics enthusiasts around the world.

In 2010, Dawes was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, a fitting recognition of her contributions to the sport. She has also been involved in various initiatives to promote physical fitness and healthy living among young people.

Today, Dawes is also the owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies in her home state of Maryland.

Tamara Shloh

Posts by Tamara Shloh

Up Next

Affordable Housing for Homeless Seniors Experiencing Coming to the Mission District

Don't Miss

U.C. Berkeley Professor Sheds Light on Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue

Tamara Shloh

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

https://youtu.be/_k7UVhI-sN8