Gymnast Dominique Dawes hopes to inspire in R.I.
6:06 PM Thu, Mar 12, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- It took Dominique Dawes a long time to feel comfortable in front of a crowd if she was clad in anything other than a leotard. Not the norm. But perfectly understandable for an Olympic gymnast who first encountered bright lights, crowds and cameras when she was flipping and tumbling through her routines. Now -- 13 years after she was part of the "Magnificent Seven" women's gymnastic team that won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta --- Dawes is focusing on being a motivational speaker and says that she is finding her voice. "This is something I'd like to do long term," Dawes said Wednesday evening sitting in a cozy nook in the lobby of the Providence Westin Hotel. "I like the thought of being able to inspire and empower people. And I've found the things I learned throughout my career as an athlete can really help people." Dawes was in Rhode Island to give the closing address at Thursday's annual Women's Summit at Bryant University in Smithfield. I think there's so much that people can relate to, such as the fear factor that I had to overcome time and time again," she said. She also said that people really like to here some of the "inside story" of what it takes to be a world-class athlete -- such as 5 a.m. training sessions before school. She said that when speaking to groups she stresses the need to surround oneself with positive, inspirational people. Having earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Maryland in 2002, Dawes said that speaking engagements take up the bulk of her time, but she still conducts gymnastic clinics. She's also still expanding her horizons and is starting on a motivational book. Speaking before a business audience at Bryant during a faltering economy only enforces her message, said Dawes who has the words "Determination, Dedication and Desire" emblazoned across the top of her website. "You have to be ready to face setbacks and obstacles," she said, recalling that neither she nor her coach allowed her to "beat myself up" after a slip during her 1996 floor routine caused her to briefly sit down on the mat. "I didn't like that at all," she said, "but sometimes you come out stronger. I want to inspire people of all ages to seek their opportunities and to never.give up." Find more information about the Women's Summit 2009 at projothebeat.com. 
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