JOHNSTOWN — Dominique Dawes will bring some of her Olympic medals to Johnstown as part of an appearance at Uzelac Gymnastics in Richland Township on Sunday afternoon.

One of her medals ­– the bronze she received 10 years after the 2000 Olympic Games concluded in Sydney, Australia – won’t be among those.

Dawes presented her medal to longtime coach Kelli Hill during an emotional moment after the U.S. women’s gymnastics team officially received the bronze before the start of this year’s U.S. championships in Hartford, Conn.

“I wanted to make sure she felt appreciated,” Dawes said of the moment that brought tears to the eyes of the members of a team reunited after a decade apart.

This gathering wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it occurred amid unusual circumstances.

Back in 2000, the U.S. squad entered the Sydney Olympic Games with high expectations. But the U.S. finished a disappointing fourth place and off the medal stand.

At the time, there had been chatter that the bronze-medal winning Chinese team used an underage gymnast. Eight years later, the speculation reached a crescendo during the Beijing Games. This spring it became official. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified the Chinese because of an underage competitor.

The United States team moved up a spot. New bronze medals were minted and presented on Aug. 11.

“I first heard the buzz that it might be a possibility in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. When I heard in 2010, I was not shocked, but I was very pleased that the IOC continued the investigation and assured that justice had prevailed,” said Dawes, a gold medalist as part of the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. women’s team in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. “As soon as the excitement subsided, my thoughts turned to the young Chinese gymnast. She didn’t have a voice in this. They’re told that they’re going to compete. It’s sad. It made the experience somewhat bittersweet.”

Dawes, 33, joined former teammates Elise Ray, 28; Tasha Schwikert, 25; Amy Chow, 32; Jamie Dantzscher, 28; and Kristin Maloney, 29 for the medal ceremony in Hartford. The group then was bused to New York City for an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show.”

“I was 23 years old during those Olympic Games,” Dawes said during a telephone interview on Thursday. “I didn’t change that much in 10 years. But my teammates, they were teenagers and in high school.

“Now they’re grown women and they’re beautiful. It was good to have that quick catch up with them, and then I was back home.”

Dawes retired after the 2000 Games and has since been busy as a motivational speaker, gymnastics coach and an appointee on the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

The Silver Springs, Md., resident has an Olympic resume filled with milestones.

She brought home medals in three straight Olympic Games, starting with the U.S. team taking bronze in the 1992 Barcelona Games; then gold in Atlanta; and the “delayed” bronze from 2000. Dawes also became the first African-American female to win an individual medal when she earned a bronze medal for her floor exercise at Atlanta in 1996.

“Team competitions have always been a thrill for me,” Dawes said. “To know that I have achieved such a record of being the only gymnast with three Olympic team medals makes me proud. I could not have achieved all that I did without the teammates I had in Maryland that taught me the real meaning of team. They kept me motivated and inspired in the sport for all my 18 years of training.  I can’t thank them and all my coaches enough.”

Kristal Uzelac, a former three-time Junior National Champion, trained with Dawes in 2000. She now coaches at Uzelac Gymnastics, which also has a facility in Altoona.

“It’s great for our gym and for the kids around this area to have an opportunity to see Dominique Dawes,” Uzelac said. “I know Dominique and I really think it’s awesome that she’s coming here. I still get chills when I see someone who’s been to the Olympics. It had been my dream and I got so close to it. In 2000 I went to training camp with her. I still look up to her.”

Dawes said she uses her experiences on the international stage to help aspiring athletes.

“Following the ‘96 Olympics I truly developed a passion for motivational talks,” she said. “It’s another platform that I can change peoples lives in a positive way. I’m going to bring my bronze and gold medal (to Uzelac Gymnastics). I’m going to talk about how to reach your full potential you have to be a good teammate.”

Putting the team first, listening and respecting parents and coaches, and surrounding oneself with positive people are key points that Dawes will stress.

“I always try to instill in young people the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people,” Dawes said. “They need discipline. They need to be around people who will kick them in the butt when they need it.”

Dawes will speak from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Uzelac Gymnastics will hold a tumbling clinic from 1 to 2:30 p.m. prior to Dawes’ appearance.