S3 Ep. 4: She Was Just Everything To Me: Dominique Dawes

American Prodigy: Becoming Great

Blue Wire

Sports

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2022

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When you ask people of a certain age to remember the first Black gymnast, odds are they’ll remember Dominique Dawes. What they don’t remember – or maybe never knew about – is the immense pressure that she faced as a Black prodigy in the sport. Today, Dominique is using her powerful legacy to distance herself from USA Gymnastics and ensure that future gymnasts have the childhood she never did. Click here for the transcript of episode 4 Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before we start, a quick content note.
0:06.0	This episode contains accounts of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, eating disorders,
0:11.4	racism, and death.
0:12.8	You'll also hear some swearing.
0:18.8	Previously, on American prodigies.
0:22.2	I stopped going to gym because I just couldn't handle it anymore.
0:28.0	I didn't want to do gymnastics anymore.
0:29.7	After that.
0:30.7	I wanted to find my identity in something else.
0:33.7	And I didn't want people associating me with gymnastics.
0:36.7	It affected me really bad.
0:38.7	To the point where it still bothers me today.
0:41.7	And I'm 50 years old.
0:42.7	I haven't been in gymnastics in years.
0:45.7	And just talking about it still affects me.
0:48.7	I wanted a voice.
0:49.7	I wanted to speak out.
0:50.7	I wanted to be emotional and for it to be okay.
0:54.7	I wanted freedom.
0:59.7	Hey, it's Samir.
1:09.7	If you've called to share your memories about black girls in gymnastics, you're in the right place.
1:15.7	Who's the first black gymnast you remember?
	...

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