The USA has assembled a women’s gymnastics squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics, which is sensational, to say the least. With Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey, the team is also a perfect representation of how diversity runs deep through the veins of the country. However, while these women wait to reinstate the United States at the helm of women’s artistic gymnastics, it should be worth remembering that, just a few years ago, Chiles or Biles wouldn’t have enjoyed such a degree of popularity.

While diversity and inclusion have become cornerstones of the American culture in recent years, it wasn’t always the case. Even just a few decades ago, achieving national popularity was often difficult for women of color. Luckily, some people were striving to change the situation.

In the USA’s gymnastics circuit, Dominique Margaux Dawes is an iconic name. With four Olympic medals to her name, Dawes is considered one of the true pioneers who helped gymnastics become the national sensation it is today. But Dominique did more than just carry the Stars and Stripes to three Olympic Games. In a recent video shared via Access, Dawes talks about how she takes pride in seeing so many women of color enjoying such extensive attention from the fans.

“…when I was watching gymnastics there was not a lot of young women of color unfortunately televised on the national or Olympic level,” revealed Dawes in the video and confesses to being “thrilled” to be one of the people who helped alter such conditions in women’s gymnastics. “to plant those seeds of inspiration for the likes of Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles is truly an honor,” said Awesome Dawesome.

Thanks to the collective efforts of the likes of Dawes and other athletes of color to bring uncharted honor to the USA over the years, their successors today relish a kind of admiration that was unthinkable back then. Taking a look at the members of the gymnastics contingent who will be representing the USA at the French capital, once again proves just how much athletes of color are integral to the country’s hopes of hauling hardware at the quadrennial event.

Simone Biles could help develop the legacy created by Dawes and others

Hezley Rivera, the 2023 Winter Cup All-Around gold medalist will be accompanying Simone and Jordan as the traveling alternate for Team USA at the Paris Games. On the other hand, the prospect of the men’s gymnastics team clinching a podium finish at the upcoming Olympics will be bolstered by the inclusion of two-time World Championships medalist Fred Richard. Furthermore, Auburn’s Suni Lee will also contribute to the diversity aspect of the gymnastics squad. The defending All-Around Olympic gold medalist Lee has overcome her own injury troubles to make it to the team and is expected to repeat her feat from Tokyo once again on the banks of the Seine. While the USA’s gymnastics team now places its ambitions on athletes irrespective of the color of their skin, it should be remembered that such a situation wouldn’t have been possible without the likes of Dawes paving the way.

And yet, Dawes seems to be as big a fan of Biles’ skills as most of the 27-year-old’s fans. In a Facebook post from 2016, the Olympic veteran wrote, “Simone Biles you are the Greatest Of All Time! You go girl. Enjoy this journey and don’t lose that gorgeous smile,” as her daughters were seen being introduced to the most decorated female American gymnast of all time. Dawes also extended her support for Simone after the latter pulled out of the 2020 Olympic finals due to her mental setback.

Now, as another Olympic returns, it remains to be seen if Biles & Co. can extend the legacy of Dawes and other black athletes who have helped forge a venerable image of the USA on the grandest stage.