Top Black-led gyms in metro Atlanta, including Dominique Dawes’ gymnastics center

This week, Dominique Dawes — who helped set Atlanta on fire in 1996 as a member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first U.S. women’s gymnastics team to win Olympic team gold — is springing to new platforms.

On Monday, her Dominique Dawes Academy opened in Alpharetta, creating a space to train the next generation of American gymnasts.

Members of the United States women's gymnastics team - Amanda Borden (from left), Dominique Dawes, Amy Chow, Jaycie Phelps, Dominique Moceanu, Kerri Strug, and Shannon MIller - wave to the crowd after being awarded their gold medals in the team competition of the 1996 Olympic Games Tuesday, July 23, 1996, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. (John Gaps III/AP)

The opening of the sprawling 20,000-square-foot facility, which previously housed a Total Wine retail store, also adds another Black-owned gym to the Atlanta market.

Interior of Dominique Dawes Academy, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Alpharetta. Dawes, a 1996 Olympics medal winning gymnast, has seven gymnastics academies in Maryland and Texas and has now expanded to metro Atlanta, in this case, Alpharetta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

In honor of the three-time Olympian (1992, 1996 and 2000), UATL has identified six other Black-owned or African American-centered gyms in metro Atlanta.

College Park Tumbleweeds

Location: 3636 College St., College Park, GA 30337

Gymnastics Coordinator: Layla Constable

About: Founder Donna Stuart established the College Park Tumbleweeds Gymnastics program in 1972 with the goal of promoting competitive excellence among young girls through gymnastics.

Focus: The program develops gymnasts’ technical skills and knowledge while preparing them for competitive opportunities in the sport.

Airborne Gymnastics Club USA

Location: 2473 Riverdale Road, College Park, GA 30337

CEO: Kamilah Norman

About: Airborne Gymnastics Club USA began as a mobile program before opening a permanent facility where children can learn, grow and thrive through movement while building confidence and athletic skills.

Focus: Programs include recreational gymnastics for ages 1 through adult, competitive gymnastics, and tumbling/ninja training, a program that is particularly popular with boys.

James Jones Gymnastics Academy

Location: Clayton County / Jonesboro area

Owner: James Jones

About: Jones founded the academy to bring affordable gymnastics training to communities that often lack access to men’s gymnastics programs. He opened the gym around 2019 after noticing that many facilities offered few opportunities for boys. The program has since trained hundreds of children in metro Atlanta.

Focus: The academy places a strong emphasis on training Black boys in gymnastics, a rarity in the sport. At times, the program has served about 60 students per season, many at little or no cost to families. Jones is currently raising $100,000 to relocate to a larger, permanent facility.

Champion Mindset Gymnastics

Location: 1227 Green Street SE, Conyers, GA 30012

Owner: Socoya Moody

About: When the world reopened after COVID, Moody founded Champion Mindset Gymnastics as a space where brown girls could be seen, celebrated, and supported in gymnastics. Called the “Home of Champions,” the gym has produced several state and national champions.

Focus: The gym offers programs for preschoolers, beginners and high-level competitors.

KiDsGyM USA

Location: 3636 College Street, College Park, GA 30337

Director of Operations: Tracy Campbell

About: Founded in 1986 by Tracy and Stephanie Campbell, KiDsGyM USA has the aim of putting fitness principles into practice through gymnastics and education programs that built healthy mental and physical lifestyles for children. Thousands of students have gone through the programs.

Focus: Aside from instruction at the Conley Recreation Center, a city-run gym in College Park, the program provides outreach classes for pre-K classrooms, after-school programs and programs for middle and high school cheerleaders.

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