For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 29, 2021
Dawes is a three-time Olympian from Silver Spring and the first African American to win an individual gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 29, 2020—On Friday, July 30 at 10:30 a.m. Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz will be joined by Dominique Dawes and Brian Hanlon from Hanlon Sculpture Studio LLC for a virtual press conference to announce a sculpture being commissioned in honor of Olympian Dominique Dawes.
A three-time Olympian, Dawes is the first African American to win an individual gold medal in gymnastics at the 1996 Olympic Games and was a 10-year member of the United States national gymnastics team. A native of Silver Spring, she has made significant contributions to the sport of gymnastics and through her vision and dedication, inspires the next generation of athletes to achieve their dreams.
The sculptor, Brian Hanlon, who is creating the bronze sculpture in her honor, has produced more than 500 public monuments, including official works at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the 1999 Women’s World Cup, a sculpture of Harriet Tubman in New York and Shaquille O’Neal at Louisiana State University.
The sculpture will be located at the future Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, which will also house the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. It is currently under construction and expected to open in 2023.
“It is exciting and appropriate for us to honor the historic accomplishments of one of Montgomery County's most distinguished residents,” said Council Vice President Albornoz. “Dominque Dawes represents the best of our community and our country. This statue showcased in front of the new South County Recreation and Aquatic Center and home to the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is the perfect location to honor and celebrate her achievements and all that it represents.”
“I’m thrilled beyond words to have this statue in my honor, placed in downtown Silver Spring. I was raised in Montgomery County, spent the majority of my life here, began my gymnastics and ninja academy here and now I am raising my own children here,” said Dominique Dawes. “As the sculptor, Brian Hanlon has told me, and what I love most about this honor, is that this is not about me. It is about the young children who will look at this statue and say to themselves, ‘Wow! She looks like me’ or ‘She is from Montgomery County, and if Dominique Dawes can accomplish these great things, then I can also succeed at whatever I put my mind to.’
“I hope this statue will serve as a hopeful reminder that we can achieve great successes in life, by working hard and believing in your dreams.”
On Tuesday, July 27 the Council introduced a special appropriation to commission the work of the Dominique Dawes Sculpture. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Who: Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz, Council President Tom Hucker,
County Executive Marc Elrich, Dominique Dawes and Brian Hanlon
What: Virtual Press Conference on Sculpture Honoring Dominique Dawes
When: Friday, July 30 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Zoom (for credentialed members of the media.)
Members of the media must RSVP before 10 a.m. on July 30 to Juan Jovel at [email protected] to receive the Zoom login information.
The public can watch on the Council’s Facebook page (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and on Council Vice President Albornoz’s Facebook Page (@CouncilmemberAlbornoz).
For more information contact: Lillian Cruz, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Council Vice President Albornoz at [email protected] or 240-777-7801.
# # #
Release ID: 21-319