How One Olympic Gymnast Helped Change the Future for Girls
Title IX Billie Jean King looks on as Dominique Dawes testifies at the Senate Commerce Committee. The hearing comes at a time when the Department of Education is threatening the gains women and girls have made in sports by issuing a policy that creates a major loophole in Title IX. Washington D.C. USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx DouglasxGrahamx rollcallpix029429
Title IX Billie Jean King looks on as Dominique Dawes testifies at the Senate Commerce Committee. The hearing comes at a time when the Department of Education is threatening the gains women and girls have made in sports by issuing a policy that creates a major loophole in Title IX. Washington D.C. USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx DouglasxGrahamx rollcallpix029429
In a sport defined by Olympic glory, World Championship records, and podium finishes, Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes brought in changes that were still far-fetched.
Ending her elite career with 4 Olympic medals and as a household name, Dawes founded the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy in 2020. And there, she refused to continue the same old practices the sport always had.
“We’re trying to do things differently,” she told Capital B recently. “It means nothing if your child is a great gymnast, standing on top of the podium. But yet, their self-esteem is shot, their mental health is shot, and they don’t know how to make relationships in this world.”
Apr 11, 2007 - Beverly Hills, CA, USA - Olympic medalist in Gymnastics DOMINIQUE DAWES arrives at The Billie Awards presented by the Women s Sports Foundation at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAm69_ 20070411_mdm_m69_206 Apr 11 2007 Beverly Hills Approx USA Olympic medalist in Gymnastics Dominique Dawes arrives AT The Billie Awards presented by The Women S Sports Foundation AT The Beverly Hilton Hotel PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY ZUMAm69_ 20070411_mdm_m69_206
Apr 11, 2007 - Beverly Hills, CA, USA - Olympic medalist in Gymnastics DOMINIQUE DAWES arrives at The Billie Awards presented by the Women s Sports Foundation at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAm69_ 20070411_mdm_m69_206 Apr 11 2007 Beverly Hills Approx USA Olympic medalist in Gymnastics Dominique Dawes arrives AT The Billie Awards presented by The Women S Sports Foundation AT The Beverly Hilton Hotel PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY ZUMAm69_ 20070411_mdm_m69_206
For decades, gymnastics demanded daunting physical standards and relentless perfection, burning out young athletes. And there wasn’t any exception in Dawes' case, too.
“I had bow legs. So, I was constantly told that you should get a deduction for your bow legs and your legs being apart,” she said in a 2022 interview. “(they wanted me to) look like the Russian gymnast or Russian ballerina I would never become.”
So, to Dawes, any approach that perpetuates these hardships is a failure. Hence, she rejected that model and built an academy emphasizing joy and love for the sport.
Dominique Dawes is redefining the sport’s values
Her goal is to set up a culture that teaches the sport with enjoyment and prioritizes health instead of chasing medals. Hence, her academy hires coaches for their ability to connect with children as well as for their technical knowledge.
“The Olympics are not for everyone to aspire toward. What we’re doing at these academies is for more of the population,” she said. “Gymnastics doesn’t have to be this grueling sport… Kids walk into our facilities smiling, and they leave sweating and smiling because they’re working hard.”
What matters is that these young gymnasts are “also enjoying their journey.” And hopefully, Dawes’ initiative will soon rewrite the narrative that has been far too long associated with gymnastics.
What do you think of her approach? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason