Three decades after helping lead the United States to Olympic gold, legendary gymnast Dominique Dawes is bringing her passion for the sport to metro Atlanta with the opening of a new training facility in Alpharetta.
Dawes, who rose to national fame during the 1996 Summer Olympics as a member of the celebrated “Magnificent Seven,” recently opened the Dominique Dawes Academy, a 20,000-square-foot gymnastics facility designed to introduce young athletes to the sport and promote active lifestyles.
The academy hosted a free open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and is scheduled to officially begin classes Monday, March 9, 2026, according to reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dawes made history in Atlanta when the U.S. women’s gymnastics team captured its first-ever team gold medal in the all-around competition at the 1996 Games. The team—nicknamed the “Magnificent Seven”—became one of the most iconic groups in Olympic history.
Now, Dawes hopes to inspire a new generation of athletes through her academy, which features a wide range of activities beyond traditional gymnastics.
The Alpharetta facility includes full gymnastics equipment, spaces designed specifically for toddlers, and an area dedicated to “ninja-style” challenges that combine agility, strength, and obstacle-based training.
Dawes held her 1996 Olympic gold medal during the academy’s opening event Friday, symbolizing the connection between her historic athletic achievements and her new role as a mentor and entrepreneur.
The Alpharetta location marks an expansion of the Dominique Dawes Academy brand, which already operates several facilities across the United States. Dawes currently has seven academies in Maryland and Texas, and the new Georgia location represents her first expansion into the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Beyond gymnastics, Dawes has also built a business career and is known for her involvement in sports ownership, including holding a stake in the Atlanta Falcons.
The new academy aims to provide training opportunities for children of various ages and skill levels, while also promoting fitness, confidence, and discipline through structured athletic programs.
For Dawes, the opening of the Alpharetta facility comes nearly 30 years after the Olympic moment that first introduced her to millions of Americans—and it represents another chapter in her efforts to give back to the sport that launched her career.
