Dominique Dawes Cheers for Black Female Olympic Athletes Participating in White-Dominated Sports

Dominique Dawes is taking a page from Issa Rae 's declaration at the 2017 Emmy Awards ceremony: She's rooting for everybody Black at Olympic Games Paris 2024 .

“I love watching track and field. I'm looking forward to Sha'Carri Richardson dominating there and Simone Manuel in the pool (who won silver for Team USA in the Women's 4x100 freestyle relay). We don't get in the pool that often. So I think it's important for young women of color to be inspired by the diversity that you see in predominantly white-dominated sports," says the four-time Olympic medalist.

"When I competed in gymnastics, there were very few of us. Now there's Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Shilese Jones, so we’re seeing a great deal of diversity. I love watching all the sports. I cheer on Team USA because that's my favorite team.”

Dawes, who won gold in the 1996 Gymnastics team event, cherishes her role now as an Olympic spectator.

“I love being on the other side now and not wearing a leotard anymore. I'm not feeling the pressure, so I love being a fan. And I get to share it with my four beautiful kids.”

She also enjoys sharing in other people’s memories of her time on the mat. “They can recall exactly where they were when my team won gold in 1996. To know that I'm building those fun memories with my kids as we cheer on Team USA, I’m looking forward to it.”

Dawes got an opportunity to greet some of her fans at the grand opening of Medal Bar: The Summer Games Pop Up Experience at 1927 Lounge inside Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. “There are gold medals hanging from the chandeliers and photos of other summer Olympic sports,” she says. “It's a lot of fun and a great atmosphere, and it's open all summer long.”

It’s been 32 years since her first Olympic games: Dawes competed for Team USA in 1992, 1996 and 2000. She reflects, “It’s crazy to think about it. Now having four children, three of them are at one of my gymnastics academies in Maryland, it’s just coming together full circle.”

Even though her kids are studying the art form, Dawes has no desire for her children to follow in her Olympic dreams. “I won’t let them,” she declares. “I want them to have fun. I think they should learn about working hard and persevering and setting goals, but not at the expense of sacrificing their childhood.”

Her children’s love of sports isn’t limited to gymnastics. “They play golf and soccer; my son plays baseball and basketball, you name it. They’re enjoying the journey along the way and they're going to look back and be smiling.”

For Biles, Richardson, Manuel and all the young Black women competing on Team USA, Dawes advises, “These athletes need to take this experience one day, one moment at a time. The competition can be very much a grind physically, emotionally and mentally, so just try to enjoy the journey no matter what the outcome is.”

Recognizing the global tragedies and hardships of the past year, Dawes realizes just how important these summer games are to world unity as an opportunity to embrace and celebrate men's and women's achievements. "We get to cheer on people and create memories that make us smile, laugh and maybe cry if people don't reach their full potential in the sport. I fell, so trust me, I was crying at 19 years old in the 1996 Olympic Games," she says. "I’ve also heard that during the Olympic Games, wars stop, and God willing, the wars in our world right now will stop to celebrate.”

It's also the perfect time to celebrate her medals, as long as no one disturbs her filing system.

“I keep my Olympic gold medal in my junk drawer because I know exactly where to put it when I get home, and no one takes anything out of the junk drawer," she exclaims with a chuckle. "It's next to the duck sauce, the spare keys and the batteries. There's an Apple air tag on it because I've lost my Olympic gold medal a couple of times. So, with mommy's brain these days, that's where I store it.”

Watch the 2024 Olympics on NBC and Peacock .