<P> At the 1992 USA vs. Japan dual meet, the 15 - year - old Dawes received a standing ovation, after an energetic floor routine in which she revived the back - to - back tumbling revolutionized by Soviet star Oksana Omelianchik . The judges were equally impressed, and gave her a perfect 10 . Though she was not part of the 1991 World Championship team, Dawes continued to move up on the national and international scene throughout 1991 and 1992 . </P> <P> The crowd pleasing athlete placed 4th at the 1992 Olympic trials and was awarded a place on the United States Olympic team . Despite battling very painful tendinitis in both ankles and Osgood - Schlatter disease during pre-Olympic training, Dawes performed respectably throughout the competition, even having the boldness to try a brand - new move in her balance beam routine during team competition - back handspring to three layout stepouts . She also won over the crowd with a solid optional floor exercise routine and, with a mark of 9.925, tied with Kim Zmeskal for the highest score for the American team on the event . The team won bronze, and Dawes and teammate Betty Okino became the first African American females to win an Olympic - gymnastics medal . </P> <P> Dawes only competed in the team competition in 1992, not breaking through as an all - around gymnast until 1993 . She is probably best known for her performances at the 1993 and 1994 World Championships . In 1993, Dawes led the competition after three events, even beating her more famous teammate Shannon Miller . However, she decided to try her harder vault (11⁄2 twisting layout Yurchenko) worth a 10.00 instead of simply a full - twisting layout Yurchenko, which had been devalued to a 9.8 . She made the first vault, but slipped and fell on the second, immediately bursting into tears . With the new rule that both vaults were averaged in all - around competition, her fall dropped her to 4th overall while Miller won the title . Famously, after the vault fall Dawes's coach Kelli Hill exhorted her to be proud of her performance anyway, stating: "When did you ever think you would be in that position? You have to be happy with yourself . Come on . Be happy . Stand up and wave". Dawes did so and earned a standing ovation from the crowd . After this disappointment she rebounded in the event finals, winning two silver medals on bars and beam . </P> <P> The same fate befell her in at the 1994 Worlds . Leading after three events, she again came to vault with a chance of winning the title . This time her mistake came on the first vault where Dawes over-rotated and hurled forward into a somersault . Her low score dropped her to 5th . Her mistakes continued throughout the event finals and left the championships without winning a single medal . </P>

First african american gymnast to go to the olympics