Dominique Dawes: Olympic Champion
Dominique Dawes is an Olympic icon, entrepreneur, and youth-development advocate whose leadership and legacy inspire healthier cultures, stronger communities, and a new generation of empowered athletes.
- Highlights:
- Olympic gold medalist and three-time Olympian
- Owner of Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies
- Minority owner of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit
- Co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
- Formats:
Keynote speaker, Olympic champion, entrepreneur, and youth-development advocate.
- Audiences:
Corporate teams, youth organizations, sports associations, educational institutions, leadership events, and audiences focused on resilience, culture building, and empowerment.
- Outcomes:
- A deeper understanding of building healthy, high-performing cultures
- Practical insights on resilience, character, and leading with integrity
- Inspiration to support youth, strengthen communities, and pursue purpose-driven excellence
- Travels from: Clarksburg, MD
- **Fee range: $20,001 - $35,000
Keynote Topics
Success is a Journey, NOT a Destination
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 everyday 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
WOMEN’S HEALTH & HEART DISEASE
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.
BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS
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.
ENVISION: Reaching your Full Potential
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, plan, and perseverance.
Got D-3?
Determination, Dedication, Desire D-3 became Dawes’ personal motto when she was an Olympic athlete in the making. Fatigue, frustration, and loss of focus was common is such a perfectionist sport.
D-3 kept Dawes focused on what was going to allow her to stay on the path to success. She paints a vivid picture of moments in the gymnastics arena where D-3 inspired her to persevere through setbacks and struggles, sacrifices and insecurities, en route to Olympic Gold.
D-3 has become a staple in Dawes’ athletic and professional accomplishments. She inspires audiences to develop their own personal motto that will help define and direct them in life too!
Talent Short Bio
Dominique Dawes is a three-time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, and one of the most influential figures in the history of American gymnastics. Known for her groundbreaking achievements as the first African American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, she became a household name as part of the legendary “Magnificent Seven,” the 1996 U.S. women’s team that captured America’s first gold in the team event.
Beyond competition, Dominique has become a champion for athlete well-being, healthy training environments, and long-term youth development. As the owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, she is redefining what supportive, compassionate coaching looks like. Her academies were built to shift the culture of gymnastics toward safety, joy, confidence, and whole-person growth.
Dominique’s impact extends into sports leadership and public service. She served as co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration, is a minority owner of the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League, and recently executive-produced the Emmy-nominated Peacock docu-series Golden, chronicling elite U.S. gymnasts preparing for Tokyo.
Read Full Bio
Owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, Dominique opened the gyms to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics.
Her first academy opened in the midst of a global pandemic, July 2020 and her second location is slated to open in early 2023. Dawes also holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League, and served as the co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration alongside Drew Brees.
Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she recently served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docu-series “Golden”, the journey of USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics, which has been nominated for a Sports Emmy.
Dawes holds her degree from the University of Maryland and was inducted into UMD’s prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2023, her hometown of Montgomery County, Maryland will honor her career and legacy with a life size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
As a wife, mother of four, Olympian and business owner, Dominique Dawes has transcended the world of sports, politics, entertainment and culture.
Dominique Dawes is a remarkable individual whose journey from a young gymnastics prodigy to an iconic Olympic athlete and beyond serves as an inspiring example of determination, perseverance, and excellence. Throughout her career, she shattered stereotypes, broke barriers, and demonstrated that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve greatness.
Beyond her achievements in gymnastics, Dominique Dawes has become an advocate for health, fitness, and youth empowerment. Her commitment to encouraging the next generation to dream big, work hard, and believe in themselves is a testament to her character and enduring influence.
As we reflect on Dominique Dawes’ legacy, we are reminded of the power of resilience, the importance of diversity and inclusion in sports, and the ability of individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Dominique Dawes continues to inspire countless people to reach for the stars and to never give up on their dreams.
Her story is not only one of athletic triumph but also of the indomitable spirit that resides within each of us, waiting to break free and achieve greatness.
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Videos
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**Overview of User Reviews for Dominique's Presentations**
Dominique is highly praised across multiple reviews for her engaging and inspiring presentations. Users consistently highlight her genuine personality, relatability, and ability to connect with both adults and children, making her an exceptional speaker. Attendees noted that her remarks were heartfelt and thought-provoking, leading to a significant positive response from the audience. Reviewers from various organizations, including Collier Athletic Club and TSJ Hope Builders, emphasized her effectiveness in inspiring and motivating participants, often describing her as one of the best speakers they have encountered.
On the downside, there are no notable weaknesses mentioned in the reviews. Feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with users expressing satisfaction and a lack of constructive criticism regarding her performance.
In summary, Dominique is an outstanding speaker whose presentations leave a lasting impact, making her a highly recommended choice for events looking for inspiration and engagement.
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