If you’ve ever seen Dominique Dawes compete, you’ve seen the confidence and aggression she exudes throughout her routines. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Dawes lead her team to a bronze medal finish, in a relatively unconventional manner. Before her turn to compete on the balance beam, she made the decision to include a brand new skill into the set, a backhand spring to three layout step-outs. While obviously risky, Dawes showed that she had the utmost confidence in herself, and wanted to perform the best routine possible for her team. At the 1993 World Championships, she earned silver medal on beam and bars, and despite a fall on vault, still placed fourth in the all-around. Her success continued into the 1994 US National Championships where she won the gold medals on every event, including the all-around. It was the first time since 1969 that a gymnast had completely swept the entire competition. Later that year, Dawes lead her team to a silver medal finish at the World Championships in Dortmund, Germany, after posting the third highest all-around score. She made her 1996 debut by, once again, claiming every event and the all-around title at the US National Championships, and earning a position on the Olympic team, where she was a key member who lead the Americans to their very first gold medal finish. Dawes continued her prestigious career into 2000, where she earned a spot on her third Olympic team. During the team final of the Games, she contributed three of her event scores and helped the US win a bronze medal- after China was disqualified for having an underage competitor. 

 

Shannon Miller - 1996 Olympic Champion

 

When considering Shannon Miller for a place on the World Championship Dream Team, only one thing needs to be argued- the most decorated American gymnast, male or female. Doesn’t that speak for itself? Miller has won a total of seven Olympic medals, 9 World Championship medals, and 5 Pan American Championship medals. In 1993 and 1994, Miller became the first and only American to win back-to-back World Championship all-around titles, while in 1994, she also claimed the beam gold after a nearly flawless routine. While we have all known she exemplifies beauty and grace in her gymnastics, Miller proved that her mental fortitude and strength were equally strong attributes. At the U.S. National Championships of 1996, she placed first in the all-around, despite suffering from severe tendonitis in her left wrist, as well as a pulled hamstring. Later that year, as part of the “Magnificent Seven” Olympic team, Miller lead the United States to a first place finish in the team final, defeating the Russians for the first time in history. She also became the first American to win the title on balance beam at the Games, as well as being the first US woman to win an individual gold at a non-boycotted Olympics. Shannon was always recognized and commended for her boldness in the competition arena, taking competitive risks in her routines and performing difficult and risky skills with ease. Her consistency and showmanship made her a crowd favorite, undoubtedly proving her to be a legend in the sport. 

 

Carly Patterson - 2004 Olympic Champion 

 

Looking to more recent years, Carly Patterson first impacted the national scene when she won the all-around at the 2003 American Cup. Later that year, Patterson left her international mark at the World Championships where she lead her team to a first place finish, also claiming an individual silver medal in the all-around. Carly continued her streak of success into 2004. At the Visa Championships she won the all-around title, a second gold medal for her floor exercise, and placed second on beam. At the 2004 American Cup, Carly absolutely abolished her competitors, sweeping with meet with gold medals in each event, along with the all-around. These performances worked in her favor to earn her a position on the Olympic Team, and made her the American favorite to win a gold at the 2004 Games. The all-around competition in the 2004 Olympics proved to be a battle between Patterson and three-time World Champion, Svetlana Khorkina. Despite Khorkina’s lengthy tenure of international, World, and Olympic experience, Patterson fought through and won the all-around gold medal. She became the second american woman to win the title, and the first gymnast to win the Olympic all-around at a non-boycotted Games. 

 

Nastia Liukin - 2008 Olympic Champion 

 

When you picture a world class gymnasts who epitomizes the grace and talent that an elite athlete should encompass, you think of one dominate American who has left a lasting legacy on the world of gymnastics- Nastia Liukin. From a young age, Liukin took the international arena by storm. At the 2005 World Championships, she won the gold medal on the uneven bars and balance beam, while claiming the silver on floor and in the all-around. She continued her World Championship medal streak into 2006 as she earned silvers in the team final and on bars, and in 2007 where she placed first on the beam, second on bars, and lead her team to a first place finish. Despite all her previous success, it was in 2008 that Liukin reached and conquered the pinnacle of gymnastics- winning the all-around title at the Olympic Games. Nastia performed consistent and clean routines on every event, even sticking three out of four landings on dismounts, which lead to the highest total all-around score of the competition, 63.325, enough for the gold. She is the third American woman to win the Olympic all-around title, and with the presentation of her 5th Beijing medal during award ceremonies, Liukin tied Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Miller for the most artistic gymnastics medals won by a female American gymnast at a single Olympic Games. Nastia is known for her long, expressive lines, perfect technique, and magnificent flexibility. She mesmerizes anyone and everyone who is fortunate enough to watch her perform, and has gone down in history as one of the greatest gymnasts to compete in the sport. 

 

Gabby Douglas - 2012 Olympic Champion 

 

There are two specific years in Gabby Douglas’ gymnastics tenure that have proved to be the most successful, 2011 and 2012. Douglas first made her major international impact when she helped team USA bring home a gold medal in the team final. At the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships, she helped the American team earn yet another gold medal, as well as claiming a bar title for herself. At the 2012 US National Championships, Gabby earned a second place finish in the all-around and took the title on bars. She exemplified amplitude and difficulty on her release moves, and left everyone in awe after she showed tremendous height and fluidity in her routine. Marta Karolyi nicknamed her “The Flying Squirrel” for her aerial performance on the event. It wasn’t until the Olympic Games later that year that Douglas truly left a lasting mark on the sport of women’s gymnastics. Gabby won a pair of gold medals in the team event and in the all-around at the Games, which engraved her in the history books as the first woman of color of any nationality to win the Olympic all-around title. Douglas has proved that she has the gymnastic difficulty and execution that propels her above her competition, along with a mental fortitude that enables her to handle the pressure of her country’s Olympic hopes and dreams. 

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