--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I struggled with self-esteem issues as a…" description: "\"I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and it was not until my gymnastics career was completed in 2000 that I realized my accomplishments..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png" --- # I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and… ![“I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and it was not until my gymnastics career was completed in 2000 that I realized my accomplishments would not have been possible without my type of body, and I finally started to appreciate and celebrate myself.” quote by Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png) > “I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and it was not until my gymnastics career was completed in 2000 that I realized my accomplishments would not have been possible without my type of body, and I finally started to appreciate and celebrate myself.” [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing that her athletic success depended on her unique body helped her finally value herself. **In simple terms:** She learned to love herself after recognizing her body’s role in her achievements. Key Takeaway Self‑acceptance grows from acknowledging personal strengths. Themes self‑esteem body positivity athletic identity personal growth Mood reflective hopeful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - post‑career transition - young athletes - mental health counseling - women’s empowerment Key Concepts identity self‑recognition gratitude Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your identity do you still undervalue? - How can you celebrate daily strengths? A Different Perspective Self‑esteem can still be fragile despite achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Gymnastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gymnastics/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Young girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-girl/) ## Related quotes > [I've always lived my gymnastics career with a lot of passion and a lot of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-shewfelt/i-ve-always-lived-my-gymnastics-career-with-a-lot-of-passion-and-a/) [Kyle Shewfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-shewfelt/) > [“Chapter 16 ME AND MY CRAZY FRIENDS Yes, the other Smileys finally came home and, yes, my body finally thawed out. (Now”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/chapter-16-me-and-my-crazy-friends-yes-the-other-smileys-finally-came/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“How much loss and grief could the body take before it finally gave up?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-marsons/how-much-loss-and-grief-could-the-body-take-before-it-finally-gave-up/) [Angela Marsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-marsons/) > [For me, so much of my life has been this attempt to find my way back into my body. I tried various forms, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/for-me-so-much-of-my-life-has-been-this-attempt-to-find-my-way-back/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [So today, I finally find the courage deep inside Just to walk right up to your door But my body can't move when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/so-today-i-finally-find-the-courage-deep-inside-just-to-walk-right-up/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [“performed admirably, and the ground assault force completed its task. It was wins all around for us. There were some injuries, but nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-the-noob/performed-admirably-and-the-ground-assault-force-completed-its-task/) Steve the Noob > [I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-m-a-fully-trained-cosmonaut-and-have-completed-800-hours-training/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [Could have left, but I called and you heeded. Takin' a beatin', mission completed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/could-have-left-but-i-called-and-you-heeded-takin-a-beatin-mission/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [The war project at Stanford was essentially completed, and I accepted an offer of an Assistant Professorship at the University of Minnesota, which had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/the-war-project-at-stanford-was-essentially-completed-and-i-accepted/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [No work of art is ever completed, it is only abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/no-work-of-art-is-ever-completed-it-is-only-abandoned/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [Part of me believes that the completed record is the final measure of a pop musician's accomplishment, just as the completed film is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-landau/part-of-me-believes-that-the-completed-record-is-the-final-measure-of/) [Jon Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-landau/) > [A great task has been completed and an even larger one remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/a-great-task-has-been-completed-and-an-even-larger-one-remains/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“completed. It had been designed by Albert Speer and alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-provan/completed-it-had-been-designed-by-albert-speer-and-alone/) [John Provan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-provan/) > [The Vancouver Olympics was the first competition where I completed the short and free programs without any mistakes, and that in itself was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-kim/the-vancouver-olympics-was-the-first-competition-where-i-completed/) [Yuna Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-kim/) > [The duty of the grand jury is to separate fact from fiction, after a full and impartial examination of all the evidence involved, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-p-mcculloch/the-duty-of-the-grand-jury-is-to-separate-fact-from-fiction-after-a/) [Robert P. McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-p-mcculloch/) ## More by Dominique Dawes > [Don't set your goals to be a star. Set your goals to be the best that you can be and go from there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/don-t-set-your-goals-to-be-a-star-set-your-goals-to-be-the-best-that/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [Eleven years old is not an early age to set your sight on the Olympics for a gymnast, because we normally peak in high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/eleven-years-old-is-not-an-early-age-to-set-your-sight-on-the/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [It's important for moms, but also dads, to recognize that they're role models when it comes to their kids' physical health, when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/it-s-important-for-moms-but-also-dads-to-recognize-that-they-re-role/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I realized I love motivating and I love empowering and I love inspiring people. I did that as an athlete for 18 years, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-realized-i-love-motivating-and-i-love-empowering-and-i-love/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [A lot of people don't know the USOC is not government funded and they are always looking for support from sponsors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-the-usoc-is-not-government-funded-and-they/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I think it's actually harder to watch the meet from the media section. You have no control there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-think-it-s-actually-harder-to-watch-the-meet-from-the-media-section/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I did do Broadway for a little less than a year and realized quickly I don't have a passion for it and, more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-did-do-broadway-for-a-little-less-than-a-year-and-realized-quickly/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [There will be mistakes and there will be falters. There will be things that are not a part of your plan. See the challenges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/there-will-be-mistakes-and-there-will-be-falters-there-will-be-things/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I thoroughly enjoy the work I do in helping motivate and empower young girls to celebrate and love their natural selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-thoroughly-enjoy-the-work-i-do-in-helping-motivate-and-empower/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I think in any industry, it is competitive. There are a certain number of slots out there and opportunities out there. So you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-think-in-any-industry-it-is-competitive-there-are-a-certain-number/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [The majority of people who get in the sport of gymnastics do not go to the Olympics or get a Division 1 scholarship, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/the-majority-of-people-who-get-in-the-sport-of-gymnastics-do-not-go/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I think it's good for parents to be supportive, to motivate, and to somewhat nudge their kids because the majority of kids will want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-think-it-s-good-for-parents-to-be-supportive-to-motivate-and-to/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [As a media member, my goal is to inform the American fans of persons of character. It's a joy for me, either writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/as-a-media-member-my-goal-is-to-inform-the-american-fans-of-persons/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) > [I love athletics. As an athlete, I like to believe I can still do the things I used to do when I was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-love-athletics-as-an-athlete-i-like-to-believe-i-can-still-do-the/) [Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) [Explore all 15 Dominique Dawes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/) ## More Accomplishments quotes > [“Give someone more time and they'll appear to have done more with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/give-someone-more-time-and-they-ll-appear-to-have-done-more-with-it/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [“Each day I will accomplish one thing on my to list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/each-day-i-will-accomplish-one-thing-on-my-to-list/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“Don't die without fulfilling your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-die-without-fulfilling-your-purpose/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Eschew evil and it's machinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/eschew-evil-and-it-s-machinations/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Don’t simply exist in this world, but grasp life’s potential by the jacket. Dare it to be all it can. Make life historical—a gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-goodrich/don-t-simply-exist-in-this-world-but-grasp-life-s-potential-by-the/) [Richelle Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-goodrich/) > [“Don't let any situation intimidate you anymore, don't accept defeat anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-let-any-situation-intimidate-you-anymore-don-t-accept-defeat/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“It is never late, you can start the movement now, the provisions have been made, the price has been paid and the gifts have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/it-is-never-late-you-can-start-the-movement-now-the-provisions-have/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“You may not attain the highest height with one leap but my dear; you will reach your destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/you-may-not-attain-the-highest-height-with-one-leap-but-my-dear-you/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [To me, I feel like your accomplishments have been recognized when you make the cover of a videogame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/to-me-i-feel-like-your-accomplishments-have-been-recognized-when-you/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I'm happy and satisfied with my accomplishments. I sleep well at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royce-gracie/i-m-happy-and-satisfied-with-my-accomplishments-i-sleep-well-at-night/) [Royce Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royce-gracie/) [Browse all 489 Accomplishments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and it was not until my gymnastics career was completed in 2000 that I realized my accomplishments would not have been possible without my type of body, and I finally started to appreciate and celebrate myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dominique Dawes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a-young-girl-and-it-was-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishments" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a-young-girl-and-it-was-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/dominique-dawes-32705_accomplishments_i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a_463342.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I struggled with self-esteem issues as a young girl, and it was not until my gymnastics career was completed…” — Dominique Dawes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dominique Dawes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I struggled with self-esteem issues as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a-young-girl-and-it-was-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-struggled-with-self-esteem-issues-as-a-young-girl-and-it-was-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```