About Dominique Dawes Academy
At Dominique Dawes Academy, our mission is to empower children and help parents recognize the value of being in an empowering and positive environment.
We understand the importance of gymnastics as a sport, but we also recognize the toxic culture that has plagued the sport in the past. Our goal is to change this paradigm and create a healthy and nurturing environment for all children.
About Dominique Dawes
Dominique Dawes is a three-time Olympian (Barcelona ’92, Atlanta ’96, Sydney ’00) and member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first American team to win gold in women’s gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics.
As the proud Founder and Brand Ambassador of Dominique Dawes Academy, she continues her lifelong commitment to fostering a healthy, compassionate culture for children through gymnastics and ninja fitness.
Dominique opened her first academy in July 2020, amid a global pandemic, followed by a second location in April 2023, her third location in Columbia in 2024, with three more locations to open in late 2025.
“Every day, I watch young girls and boys walk out of my facility sweating and smiling. This journey has been more rewarding, more thrilling than standing on any Olympic podium.”
Dominique Dawes is a wife and mother of four young children who inspire her advocacy of health and wellness-related endeavors. Dawes’ passion has always been to educate and empower families, women, and young girls on issues related to physical and mental health.
Dominique’s experiences in gymnastics as a child were not always positive. She has been a vocal critic of the sport’s “toxic culture,” speaking out against the emotional, psychological, and physical abuse she and other gymnasts have endured.
She has served as a national ambassador for numerous nonprofits and corporations and was the first national spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the USA’s “Uniquely Me! The Girl Scout/Dove Self Esteem Program.” She continues to work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has been a prolific speaker since the 1996 Olympic Games.
One of Dominique’s key priorities for our Academy is to prioritize the mental and physical health and well-being of every child above scores and rankings. Her goal is to carefully manage the number of hours children train and emphasize the importance of a well-rounded life outside of gymnastics. We also focus on building a culture of kindness and respect, where children are encouraged to be good teammates and to support one another.
Awards & Accomplishments
- Dawes 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 served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docuseries "Golden," about the journey of the USA's elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics, which was nominated for a Sports Emmy.
- Most recently, Dawes was featured as part of E!’s documentary “Black Pop," celebrating the power of black culture and her impact in the sports world.
- Dawes is a newly elected board member of VetSports, a veteran-owned non-profit that serves to help veterans through sports.
- In Fall 2023, she was inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame.
- She holds a degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and was inducted into the university's prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022.
- On June 22, 2024, her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland, honored her career and legacy with a life-size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
Come see us at one or our Maryland and Virginia Locations!
We understand that choosing a gym for your child is a big decision, and we invite you to visit our academy and see for yourself the positive and nurturing environment we have created.
Whether your child is just starting out in gymnastics or looking for a unique sport like ninja, we have classes and programs to meet their needs. Thank you for considering Dominique Dawes Academy for your child’s gymnastics and ninja training.
