Celebrating Black History Month

Dianne Durham

b. June 17, 1968 – February 4, 2021
Legendary and iconic Dianne Durham can easily be credited with breaking the first of many barriers for female African American gymnasts. In 1983 she dominated the national championships, winning the all-around title, in addition to earning gold medals on balance beam, floor exercise, and vault, and silver on the uneven bars! Her achievements made her the first Black gymnast to win the title of U.S. All Around-champion. While being inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Regional Hall of Fame in 2017, Durham said her 1983 victory had “showcased to the entire country that a little Black girl from Gary, Indiana, could be the best gymnast in the country.” In her adult life, Dianne remained active in gymnastics as a judge and coach, operating Skyline Gymnastics in Chicago, for many years. On learning of Dianne’s passing, USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung remarked: “As an icon and trailblazer in our sport, Dianne opened doors for generations of gymnasts who came after her, and her legacy carries on each day in gyms across the country.”

Chainey Umphrey

b. August 2, 1970
It has been said that Chainey Umphrey is a “study in perseverance.” He is a former J.O. National Champion, four-time World Championship team member, and U.S. Olympic team member, just to mention a few of his many accolades in the sport. Chainey attended UCLA where he was not only a member of the gymnastics team, but also team captain for two years, and also the UCLA Team Mentor. During a time when there were few, if any, male African American gymnasts on television, Chainey became widely known and easily recognizable for his dynamic and high-flying four-element release sequence on the horizontal bar. It is really incredible to see him soaring through the air and propelling himself over the bar again and again, which at that time was far less common. His success and positive presence on TV provided young African American male gymnasts motivation and someone who looked like them changing the face of the sport that they could look up to. After gymnastics, Chainey went on to become a doctor, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He has also volunteered with the Wendy Hilliard Foundation, which is a gymnastics organization benefiting underprivileged youth in New York City.

Gabrielle "Gabby" Douglas

b. December 31, 1995
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas—or more commonly—Gabby Douglas is the first African American to earn the title of Olympic Individual All-Around Champion and also the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual All-Around and team competitions at the same Olympics (2012 London Olympic Games). Her performances contributed to team gold medals at both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics; she was also a member of the gold medal winning 2015 World Championship team. Gabby’s Olympic individual All-Around title is one of the highest honors in gymnastics. This monumental achievement inspired volumes of young African American girls in the sport of gymnastics and beyond. Believe it or not, legendary and record shattering Simone Biles was one of the many inspired. Simone said, “Growing up, I didn’t see very many Black gymnasts, … So whenever I did, I felt really inspired to go out there and want to be as good as them. I remember watching Gabby Douglas win the 2012 Olympics, and I was like, If she can do it, I can do it.” After her gymnastics career, Gabby continued to inspire others by sharing her story of determination and perseverance in her autobiography, Grace, Gold and Glory: My Leap of Faith, and also The Gabby Douglas Story, which is a TV movie about her life. Gabby has also been involved in numerous university/community based Q & A sessions, lecturing events, and took part in an Anti Cyber-bullying Campaign, after personally experiencing bullying on social media following the Rio Olympics.

Domonique Dawes

b. November 20, 1976
Dominique Dawes – “Awesome Dawesome!” – is a three-time Olympian, and the first African American to win an individual Olympic medal in women’s gymnastics with her bronze on floor exercise at the 1996 games. ESPN wrote “ When Dawes leapt through the air, stretching and contorting her body in front of a room teeming with white faces, she showed them, as well as the rest of the world, how black women could move and excel in traditional white spaces, even if they had to take flight to do so.” Dawes is also a World Championship medalist, U.S. senior National Champion and was on the U.S. National team for an impressive 10 years. After her competitive gymnastics career, Dawes took part in numerous programs geared toward promoting healthy lifestyles and habits for children. In particular, Dawes served as President of the Women’s Sports Federation, was spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the USA’s “Uniquely Me” self-esteem campaign, has supported events for autism awareness, was on the Advisory Board of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits for Life program, and was also appointed by former President Barack Obama to be co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Dawes has also engaged in motivational speaking, appeared in music videos, and even performed on Broadway. She is currently married, with 4 children and owns the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy, which is a gymnastics and Ninja facility. Dawes’ impact on gymnastics was significant and her achievements really paved the way for other gifted black female gymnasts to receive attention and acclaim.

Simone Biles

b. March 14, 1997
Undoubtedly and unarguably one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, Simone Biles has made history time and time again. Not only is she the 2016 Olympic All-Around champion, and member of the gold medal winning Olympic team in Rio, but with a total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, she is also the most decorated American gymnast, and third most decorated in the world (including men and women). Simone has won five World Championship All-Around titles, and, in fact, has not lost a single competition since 2013! In a recent Vogue article, it was said, “Statistics, rankings, and records obliterated don’t fully capture how she dominates her sport.” This is completely true. Her ability to perform the most incredibly difficult elements and routines with ease is astounding. No wonder she has four different gymnastics skills named after her, which are among the most difficult elements in the sport ever. Achievements aside, Simone has also been a powerful and impactful voice for change in the sport and culture of gymnastics. She has inspired so many young women and young African American women in particular not only with her athletic accomplishments, but also by speaking out about her own experiences with concepts of beauty standards, self-esteem, and the negativity she has encountered on social media.

Written by James Jackson