Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes is bringing her gymnastics academy back to her roots.
Dawes announced that she will be opening a new Dominique Dawes Academy location in her hometown of Silver Spring in 2026. The gym will be located at 12006 Plum Orchard Drive in the White Oak area. According to Source of the Spring, the Silver Spring location is expected to open in mid February.
Dawes shared the news in a social media post Tuesday, reflecting on the new year, her lifelong journey in gymnastics, and her plans for expansion. “As I reflect on the past year and really a lifetime of work in Gymnastics, I’m excited to open up more gyms in 2026 starting in Silver Spring, Md. and then in Alpharetta, Ga.,” Dawes wrote. “Giving kids and families a wonderful experience, seeing them make new friends, setting new goals and being healthier, active stronger kids is what gives me such joy.”
The Silver Spring gym will add to Dawes’ growing presence in Montgomery County. She already operates Dominique Dawes Academy locations in Clarksburg and Rockville. Her first academy opened in Clarksburg in July 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
A three time Olympic gymnast, Dawes competed in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and earned a gold medal as part of the historic 1996 U.S. women’s gymnastics team. She is now the owner and CEO of Dominique Dawes Academies, which she founded to promote a healthier, more positive culture within the sport of gymnastics.
Dawes, who also describes herself as a wife and mother of four in her website, has consistently emphasized health, wellness, and personal growth as the foundation of her gyms. The upcoming Silver Spring location represents both an expansion of her brand and a return home, bringing her vision for youth development and fitness back to the community where it all began.
