Dominique Dawes, four-time Olympic medalist, never ever had it simple as an elite professional athlete, and has actually not had it simple as a small company owner.
The world-renowned, extremely embellished gymnast is among just 3 American females to contend in 3 various Olympic video games, and was the very first Black lady to get a person Olympic medal in gymnastics. But her success had its expenses.
“I went through a very challenging childhood, in some degree, where I sacrificed my childhood to win an Olympic gold medal,” Dawes informed CNBC’s Dominic Chu at Wednesday’s Small Business Playbook occasion. “It was 24/7 work, work, work, and if you weren’t doing well in the gymnastics gym, you felt little of yourself.”
When Dawes chose to end up being a business owner, and established Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy, her timing might not have actually been even worse. She signed a 10- year lease prior to the Covid-19 pandemic started.
“We were supposed to open our doors April 2020, however, we were a little delayed. … It’s definitely been a very rocky journey, but I do believe what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
Dominique Dawes of the U.S.A. extends on the balance beam throughout her regimen at the Georgia Dome in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Doug Pensinger/Allsport|Getty Images
The initially area opened in July 2020 in Clarksburg, Maryland, and Dawes has actually because opened a 2nd fitness center in Rockville,Maryland The economy, nevertheless, stays unpredictable, and Dawes stated she remains encouraged as a small company owner by constantly concentrating on her why.
“What keeps me motivated and wanting to grow this business is the why. Why am I doing this?” Dawes stated. “I want to make sure that young kids, boys and girls, have a positive and empowering safe space to go to to be introduced to the sport of gymnastics, as well as to the sport of ninja,” Dawes stated, describing the ninja training courses motivated by the tv series “American Ninja Warrior” which her health clubs provide.
Dawes, who has actually spoken up in the previous about the abuse scandal including U.S.A. Gymnastics andDr Larry Nassar– and misdirected management that she stated was concentrated on “medals and money”— stated the inspiration to preserve her small company comes partly from her own experience, and she hopes that the favorable environment at her gymnastics academies will assist establish kids’ intrinsic self worth and self-confidence, different from their efficiency in the sport.
Seemingly, what didn’t eliminate the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy did make it more powerful: Dawes stated she is taking a look at opening a 3rd area.
“This is my method of returning to the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia] location that has actually done so much for me,” Dawes stated.
