COLLEGE PARK, Maryland Three-time Olympian
Dominique Dawesstill maintains her focus and dedication to what’s important in life including laughter.
During her performances, Dawes says she rarely smiled. But today, as a wife, mother of four young children and owner of a gymnastics academy, she encourages the girls she trains to express emotions that would not have been acceptable during her career.
It’s part of a shift in the cutthroat culture of American gymnastics that was brought to the fore at the Tokyo Olympics by the decision of Simone Biles considered the “Greatest of All Time” in the sport to pull out of the team event final due to mental exhaustion.