- - Father-in-law of gymnast Dominique Dawes found dead in Virginia

Steve Gardner, USA TODAYDecember 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM

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The family of Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Dominique Dawes is grieving the death of her father-in-law after the body of a man missing for five days was found Saturday, Dec. 20 in southwestern Virginia.

Authorities said a car belonging to 79-year-old Leonard Hugh Thompson of Herndon, Virginia, was found on Interstate 81 near Roanoke on Tuesday with a flat tire and missing keys. Dawes issued a plea for help finding him on social media Saturday afternoon, saying the family believed "he has had a health episode and is disoriented and confused."

Dawes and her husband, Jeff Thompson, have four children. She posted a photo late Saturday night on her official Instragram account with the caption "Rest in Peace, Papa T."

"We take comfort in knowing that he is now with our Lord and Savior. Thank you all for the prayers and support during this very difficult time," she wrote.

Dominique Dawes introduces members of U.S. Olympic team at an event prior to the 2012 Summer Games in London.

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Dawes became the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in gymnastics when the United States won the team title at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She also won an individual bronze medal in the floor exercises that year.

She also won bronze medals as a member of Team USA at the 1992 Games in Barcelona and 2000 Games in Sydney.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dominique Dawes' father-in-law found dead in Virginia

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