New Statue Honoring Olympic Athlete Dominique Dawes unveiling Press Event July 23, 2024

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, Montgomery County Recreation Director Robin Riley and staff today welcomed Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes to celebrate the unveiling of a statue in her honor at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (SSRAC).
Ms. Dawes, a Montgomery County native, was the first Black woman on the United States gymnastics team and the first Black woman gymnast to win an individual Olympic medal. Born in Silver Spring, she is a three-time Olympic medalist (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney2000) and the owner and CEO of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics and Ninja Academies. Ms. Dawes opened the gyms to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. She has inspired many young people in the area and throughout the U.S.
The sculpture was completed by artist Brian Hanlon, a classically trained master sculptor and founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio in Toms River, NJ. With more than 300 public and private art pieces, he is a nationally recognized artist specializing in bronze statues and plazas.
Ms. Dawes is the mother of four young children. Her gyms provide a positive outlet for both children and adults to participate and thrive. Her first academy opened in the midst of a global pandemic, in July 2020, her second location opened in 2023, and she will be opening her third Academy in 2024 in Columbia.
Ms. Dawes’ passion has always been to educate and empower families, women and young girls on issues related to physical and mental health. She has been a national ambassador for several nonprofit organizations and corporations.
The newly opened 120,000-square-foot Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center is located at 1319 Apple Avenue. It offers recreation and leisure activities, including pools designed for general swimming, low-level diving, exercise, aquatic play, training and teaching opportunities. The center also features a gymnasium, fitness center, movement and dance studios, multipurpose activity rooms, staff offices, a teaching kitchen, café, a new home for the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, public use space and social space. For more information on the SSRAC, visit www.mocorec.com.