7th Grade Winner

What Female Athlete Inspires Me and Why?

I chose a female athlete that I felt, really strived to get where she is today. She is not only a generous and beautiful woman, she is also an amazing athlete, and so the woman whom I chose is Dominique Dawes. 1 know there are many people out there that don't really consider gymnastics as a real hardcore sport, and I know this because I used to be one of those people. Then I realized all sports are hardcore in there own ways, and even though you may not think it ballet can even be hardcore at times to. Though in my opinion Dominique Dawes makes gymnastics seem so difficult but yet look so easy. She just puts so much heart and so much effort, it is always one hundred percent with her, and it doesn't matter if she is tired or just getting started she always gives her all. It almost seems like she was born to do it, no literally, and speaking of when she was born...

Dominique Dawes was born to Don and Loretta Dawes on November 20,1976 in Silver Spring, Maryland. When Dominique Dawes was a young child still considered a toddler she was tumbling all over the floor swinging from doorways, and that is when her parents decided, they should sign her up for gymnastics. After a few years, as Dominique Dawes got older (about 9 years old) she began to compete in competitions. When she was only twelve years old she went all the ways to Australia to compete in an international competition, but didn't come home with a medal. When Dominique Dawes was only fifteen years old she was the first African American woman to represent the United States in women's gymnastics at the Olympic Games, she also placed fourth in the all-around competition at the World Championships which was held in Birmingham, England, which to me sound like a very big accomplishment.

To me the most amazing thing, which she ever did, was in 1994 when she won the all around crown and all four event titles at the National Gymnastics Championships, which made her the very first woman in twenty-five years to sweep the national championships. Unfortunately she was hurt a year later making her unable to attempt to sweep the National Championships a second year in a row. An injury sure couldn't keep Dominique Dawes down though; once her injury was finally healed she was back at it again. So in 1996 she attempted to sweep the National Championships again, and you know she sure did. Making her the first and only female gymnast back then, and now to ever sweep the National Championships twice! One thing I have not mentioned is how Dominique Dawes’ teammates/coach view her, which I don't think you will be very surprised. Dominique tried to juggle both gymnastics and high school (Gaithersburg High School). She trained at least 40 hours a week, and still was able to keep a high grade point average, school activities, and still was the Queen at her senior prom. Her teammates knew her as “Awesome Dawesome,” because she was able to juggle all of those things. Now and hopefully you see why she is such an inspiration to me, and a role model to many.

Tanisha on Raven's Essay:

“This essay took a different angle. While I enjoyed the essay, it really went into depth as to who her athlete was and all the accomplishments the athlete received. I would have liked to read more about why this particular athlete had such an impact on your life and what about this athlete inspires you so much.”