Heart of a Champion: The Dominique Dawes Story

by Kim Washburn

Overview

Her Determination, Dedication, and Desire Brought Home the Gold Dominique Dawes focused on her dream, and nothing would stop her from reaching it—definitely not the fact that she was still just a kid. By the time she was ninteen years old, she stood on the podium to receive the Olympic gold medal in gymnastics. Discover how her faith in God and hard work led her to become one of the top gymnasts in the world. Let her story and her motto of “determination, dedication, and desire” encourage you to become all you can be, in competition and in life. Includes a special note from Dominique Dawes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310722687
Publisher:	Zonderkidz
Publication date:	05/22/2012
Series:	ZonderKidz Biography Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	377,140
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	1020L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kim Washburn has been writing for children for more than ten years. While working at Focus on the Family, two of her original stories were recognized by the Evangelical Press Association, including first place in the fiction category. Her nonfiction books for young readers have reached a wide audience—including Breaking Through by Grace: The Bono Story and Defender of Faith: The Mike Fisher Story.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

1 Success Under Pressure 11

2 The Blessings That Brought Her Here 15

3 What Teamwork Can Do 24

4 Nothing Less Than Perfect 32

5 Breakthrough and Clean Sweep 38

6 Long Road to Magnificent Gold 47

7 Audiences Fit for Rock Stars 61

8 Back to the Mat 68

9 Following Her Heart 79

10 The Challenges That Need a Champion 85

11 What She Missed the First Three Times 94

12 When the White House Calls 98

13 Building on the Foundation 104

Editorial Reviews

At six years of age, Dominique Dawes was an active little girl. Like parents everywhere, hers decided she needed an outlet for that energy. They enrolled her in a gym called Hill's Angels, and for the next eighteen years, Kelli Hill coached Dominique focusing on how to bend, jump, flip, and spin her body, as well as wrap her mind around gymnastics. It was a road fraught with disappointments, challenges, and successes beyond Dominique's wildest imagination. When the little six year-old started in the sport, no one knew that she would end up a three-time Olympic champion and the first African-American gymnast to strike gold. But her motto of Determination, Dedication, and Desire served her well. Coming on the heels of the most recent Olympic event and the huge successes of the USA Women's Gymnast Team, this book is sure to appeal to young girls determined to go after their goals.

Children's Literature - Bonita Herold

Gr 4–8—This motivational biography vividly recounts the extraordinary accomplishments of the gymnast and describes the empowering faith that helped her follow her career path. Guided by her personal motto, "D-3: Determination, Dedication, and Desire," Dawes won three Olympic medals and multiple national and world championships. She was the first African American national gymnastics champion and the first black woman of any nationality to win Olympic gold in gymnastics, as a member of the 1996 "Magnificent Seven." During her 18 years of training and competition, she displayed remarkable talent, resilience after mistakes and injuries, and a relentless commitment to perfection. When her gymnastics career ended at age 23, she had to decide what to do with her life. She has found her niche in sports media and as a spokesperson for the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition; Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative; and recreational opportunities for youth with disabilities. Through personal interviews, periodicals, websites, and photos, Washburn focuses on the principles and religious faith that have guided Dawes's life. Surprisingly little information is provided about her family and the challenges she may have faced as an African American gymnast. This purposeful biography is informative and engaging and carries a clear message about faith-based inspiration and guidance.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC

School Library Journal