Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes to address annual dinner honoring women's achievements in sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Dominique Dawes, U.S. Olympic gold medalist in gymmastics, will deliver the keynote address at Indiana University Bloomington's annual National Girls and Women in Sport Day Dinner, where ESPN sportscaster and IU alumna Sage Steele will be honored along with Emily Ward, a director at IU's Campus Recreational Sports.


Dominique Dawes

The Feb. 12 dinner in Bloomington is sponsored by the IU School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) and the IU Alumni Association (IUAA). It begins at 6 p.m. in the Henke Hall of Champions, located in the North End Zone facility of IU Memorial Stadium.

Tickets are available for $25 each ($15 for IUAA members); table sponsorships are available for $250 (includes eight seats). To purchase tickets or register for the event, visit www.hper.indiana.edu.

Dominique Dawes

Dawes is best known for her success as an Olympic gymnast who competed in three Olympic Games, where she won four medals and gained a permanent place in the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. Fans across the nation and around the world remember her as a member of the gold-medal-winning "Magnificent Seven" at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where she also won a bronze medal with her floor-exercise performance, becoming the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal. She also earned a bronze medal with the U.S. team in the 1992 Barcelona Games and made a surprising comeback in the 2000 Sydney Games, earning a team bronze medal.

At her Olympic debut in 1992 in Barcelona, she was the first African-American female to compete in and qualify for an Olympic Games through the Olympic trials. At these Games, she and her teammates captured a bronze medal. Throughout her career, Dawes has won more National Championship medals than any other athlete -- male or female -- since 1963, as well as numerous World Championship medals.

Since retiring from gymnastics, Dawes has become an accomplished motivational speaker, speaking to audiences about topics focusing on passion, leadership, teamwork, health, fitness and wellness. Dawes' message empowers vast audiences with her passion and energy, and leaves a lasting effect on those she inspires. In 2010, Dawes was named co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. As co-chair, her mission is to engage, educate and empower all Americans to fulfill their own dreams.