Meeting three-time Olympian Dominique Dawes at Ocean Casino Resort’s Medal Bar in Atlantic City was absolutely fitting. The history-making gymnast — no stranger to Olympic greatness — is immortalized in many hearts as “Awesome Dawesome,” a gold-winning member of 1996’s “Magnificent Seven” at Atlanta’s 1996 Summer Olympics. At that iconic event, she became the first Black woman of any nationality to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.
Dawes chatted with Travel Noire at the opening of Medal Bar, a special pop-up experience at Ocean Casino Resort’s 1927 Lounge. The swanky spot includes decor perfect for this year’s Summer Games, places for photo ops, and signature drinks.
Dawes, who symbolically lit a prop torch on opening night, described the festive venue as “a wonderful atmosphere to come and watch the Olympic games and cheer on Team USA.” The Olympian noted that she’s rooting for all of Team USA — and added that she’s particularly happy to see the diversity of our nation’s female gymnastics squad.
She noted that she’ll be watching stateside with her kids or training young athletes at one of her gymnast academies. Regarding Paris as the host of this year’s Summer Olympics, the gold winner had a positive outlook. She said, “Oh, it’ll be wonderful.”
“I went to Paris a number of times competing, but back in the day, it was different than it is today. It was very much a job, it was very much a business, and we weren’t able to really enjoy ourselves as much. So, I didn’t get to enjoy Paris,” she recalled. “I hope to bring my family sometime, but this will be a wonderful Olympic game to watch from afar. And hopefully, not only will the gymnasts excel, but I look forward to all the other sports that I normally don’t watch throughout the year. I think breakdancing is one of the sports.”
Dawes candidly shared that her packing essentials were limited when she jet-setted to the Olympic Games as a competing athlete. However, she always made sure to have a lucky pair of earrings she felt would “blind the judges” to anything that could deduct from her scores. She also mentioned that scented beauty products helped give her a sense of calm before competing.
“Oh my goodness. When I was competing in the Olympics, I was poor. So I brought nothing. I had my leotard and I always had special stud earrings that were kind of superstitious to me. This was before technology,” she added lightheartedly.
“Maybe Chapstick, maybe lotion,” she continued. “I’m very big into scents and essential oils. I started that when I was younger, so maybe just those little fun things. [I tried] finding ways to relax when traveling and leading up to competitions because I would always get a little — my nerves would always get a little rattled. So, you know, just trying to get the right mindset.”
Now, the history marker gets that peace in Florida. She said she liked traveling overseas before having children, but there’s nothing like going to Florida during this chapter of her life.
“I just love being near water,” she shared. Views are so important to me — calming surroundings. Not only something visual but also what I’m listening to. And so whenever I hear water, see water, feel water, taste water — all five senses — if it’s feeling in and around water, I feel at peace. And that’s what I love about Florida, especially on the Gulf Coast.”
Another destination that holds a place in the champion’s heart is Atlanta, the place of her top Olympics memory. While Dawes competed in three Olympic games (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000), the world’s triumph through her success at the Atlanta Games still resonates with her.
“Atlanta is definitely a second home for a reason,” Dawes said. “Because those Olympic games were one of the most memorable Olympic games, not only for myself and my other six Olympic teammates, but also, I think, for our nation. I still get stopped by families, women, men — you name it. And they share with me the experience they had watching those Olympic games when my team won gold, or even when I fell in the all-around competition.”
She continued, “… Everyone can take themselves back to where they were at that moment in 1996 when we won gold, and so that’s why Atlanta is always going to be a second home and a place I’ve had the most fondest memories. And now, as a part of the Atlanta Falcons ownership limited partner group, I’ll be spending much more time in that city and hopefully making a more lasting impact.”
