Before Gabby Douglas, there was Dominique Dawes

It's always truly remarkable to see someone's blood, sweat and tears pay off, and Gabby Douglas' performance yesterday in London was nothing short of this.
In becoming the first African-American women to win all-around gymnastics gold, Douglas has stamped her name in the record books in a new a column. The 14-year-old's indelible mark has done more than just provide another piece of medal for Team USA (third straight American Olympian to win the all-around gold), but will simultaneously inspire many African-American girls to get involved in the sport.
Similar to the profound impact Douglas had on many yesterday, so did Dominique Dawes, a member of the "Magnificent Seven", in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics. Dawes previously was known as the first and only African-American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, and will now be joined proudly by Douglas.