A few days before the 2024 Olympics begin in Paris, France, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz will honor three-time Olympic medalist and Silver Spring native Dominique Dawes by unveiling a sculpture at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center. The event will take place at noon on Tuesday, July 23.
The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, located at 1319 Apple Ave. in Silver Spring, MD. The sculpture's artist, Brian Hanlon, is expected to attend the dedication.
Dominique Dawes won medals as a member of the U.S. gymnastics teams in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), and Sydney (2000). The 1996 team secured a gold medal. Dawes is one of only three female American gymnasts to compete in three Olympics.
Dawes has served as a national ambassador for numerous nonprofits and corporations. She 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 and Girls Club of America and co-chaired the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition with former NFL quarterback Drew Brees under the Obama administration.
In addition, she was an executive producer, alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, for the Peacock docu-series “Golden,” which focused on the USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Dawes has been inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. She attended Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg High School.
Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes Sculpture Unveiling at Silver Spring Rec Center on July 23
