Olympic Champ Dominique Dawes Opens 9th Gymnastics Academy

Hundreds of excited families packed into Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey this Saturday to witness Olympic gymnastics legend Dominique Dawes cut the ribbon on her ninth academy. But this isn't your typical competitive gymnastics gym.

Three-year-old Amira bounced through the facility's colorful floor mats as her mother, Niaisa Wise, watched with a smile. "I just wanted her to get a good atmosphere, and start to learn how to move her body more," Wise explained.

That's exactly what Dawes had in mind. The three-time Olympian and 1996 Atlanta Games gold medalist built her academy network on a simple but revolutionary idea: gymnastics should be fun, not brutal.

"It's more of a compassionate and empathetic environment, which is quite different from what I experienced in my childhood," Dawes said. As a mother of four, including a young son, she's creating the kind of program she wants for her own kids.

The academy welcomes children from 18 months through age 14 for gymnastics, tumbling classes, and "ninja" obstacle courses designed to get kids moving. Boys and girls train side by side in programs that celebrate effort over perfection.

"Our boys like doing gymnastics as well," said parent Brittany Johnson-Brown. "So we are allowing them to come and explore."

General manager Gavin Reath made the mission crystal clear. "We are not focused on churning out Olympic athletes," he said. "We are focused on creating that social, community-driven environment that every family can enjoy."

For parents who grew up watching Dawes dominate on the balance beam, meeting her in person felt surreal. "I've been trying to explain it to my kids," said Erica Wade. "I'm like, this is the Simone Biles of my time!"

The Ripple Effect

Dawes is quietly reshaping youth gymnastics across the country, one academy at a time. Her nine locations prove that parents are hungry for sports programs that build confidence without crushing spirits.

The Mount Laurel facility opens its doors for regular classes Monday, offering sessions seven days a week plus open gym time. In a sport once defined by harsh coaching and impossible standards, Dawes is showing that champions can be built with encouragement instead of fear.

Classes start this week, bringing movement, community, and compassion to South Jersey families ready for something better.