The ‘Awesome Dawesome’ is herself awestruck by the gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles! Dominique Dawes was one of the iconic gymnasts of her time. She was a member of the famous ‘Magnificent Seven’ team that won the gold in 1996, Atlanta. Apart from that, Dawes also holds the incredible distinction of competing in three Olympic editions. A feat very few gymnasts have been able to achieve so far.

In a recent video uploaded on YouTube by Monumental Sports Network, Dawes talked about the Simone Biles effect. Speaking on the immediate impact brought in by Biles, Dawes highlighted that Biles’ was different. Her ability to keep her physical and mental self ahead of the sport was something to be marveled at. The 47-year-old said that back in the day, nobody could open up about a mental health issue. 

Giving Biles her flowers for showing the courage to open up, Dawes recalled, “When I was growing up, discussing mental health in gymnastics was taboo. If you mentioned it, people thought something was wrong with you. With a family history of mental health struggles, I think it’s wonderful that athletes today feel free to speak up and seek help without fear of judgment.” Dawes also mentioned how she was immensely proud of the feats that the gymnastics queen had achieved. 

She stated that coming back after a setback at 27 years old was remarkable enough. This was tough for Simone Biles, who was labeled “quitter of the year,” “selfish,” and even “a shame to this country.” But the fact that Biles was able to rule in her third Olympics outing shows just how special she truly was. Dawes also pointed out how gymnastics in the 90s were heavily influenced by the Eastern European coaching mentality. 

Recalling a gruesome incident, the 3x Olympian Dominique Dawes stated that during her trip to the Barcelona Olympics, they had a ‘No Pain No Spain’ motto. This meant that the athletes were not allowed to complain about any mental or physical stress, which was a shocking prospect for the athletes’ well-being in the long run. What did this mean for Dawes?

She said, “That was something I heard at a very young age—that if you weren’t going to endure physical, emotional, or mental pain, you weren’t going to make it to the Olympics. Getting to the Games and being one of the first African-American female gymnasts to qualify—placing fourth all-around at the Baltimore Olympic Trials—meant something to me. It meant that I could inspire my race and a whole generation of young girls and boys to possibly see gymnastics as an outlet for them.”

Dominique Dawes’ kids are awestruck by Simone Biles despite mother’s impressive career

Dominique Dawes belongs to the elite list of gymnasts who competed in three Olympics. Being a member of the US National gymnastics team, Dawes is a 4x Olympic gold medalist. Interestingly, besides winning the gold medal in 1996, Dawes also has an impeccable record in the games. In every edition of the Olympics she took part in, Dawes secured at least one medal. 

By far, her Atlanta outing was the best of the lot. She clinched the team gold and also went on to win the bronze in floor exercise. Back in 1992, her first Olympics, the now 47-year-old kicked off her Olympics journey with a team bronze medal. Finally, she signed off her final Olympic appearance by winning a team bronze medal in Sydney 2000. Dawes also has 3 silver and 1 bronze medal in the World Championships. 

Interestingly, despite her overly accomplished career, Dawes’ kids seem to be more impacted by Simone Biles. Speaking about Biles’ interaction with her kids, Dawes said, “Whenever I’ve met her, she’s been kind and gracious to my four little ones.” She also shared a funny exchange between her kids. The 47-year-old icon said, “They often ask, “Mommy, is Simone better than you?” tell them, “Well, for today, yes-but back in the day, I was pretty good too!”” Thus, changing the narrative of modern-day gymnastics, Simone Biles is getting all the love she deserves. Now, it remains to be seen how she can further continue her quest as the GOAT in the days to come.