Gymnasts Dominique Dawes and Scott Keswick receive McDonald's first "Balancing It All

[JBS]

Gymnasts Dominique Dawes and Scott Keswick receive McDonald's first "Balancing It All" Achievement Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 1995
Contact: Steve Bender, McDonald's
708/575-5615 or
Tammy Firestone,
Golin/Harris
312/836-7455

Presented at MCDonald's American Cup Competition March 2 and 4 in Seattle-- McDonald's Corporation, in cooperation with USA Gymnastics, has selected world-class Dominique Dawes and Scott Keswick as winners of the first "Balancing It All" annual achievement award. The announcement was made at a press conference preceding the 1995 McDonald's American Cup competition to be held March 2 and 4 in Seattle, Wash.

The "Balancing It All" award is McDonald's way of saluting outstanding performance on and off the competition floor. "As a leading employer of young people, we recognize the importance of finding a healthy balance between school, work, athletics and outside activities," said Dean Barrett, McDonald's Vice President of Marketing. "These remarkable young gymnasts are to be commended not only for their great athletic achievements but for their ability to maintain an active, well-balanced life against a backdrop of world-class competition."

America's top female Olympic hopeful, 18-year-old Dominique Dawes, is the 1994 U.S. National Gymnastics Champion and the defending McDonald's American Cup winner.

Known as "Awesome Dawesome" to her coach and fellow Hills Angels Club teammates, the 4'11", 94-pound superstar rose to international acclaim by winning the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games. An avid reader, diver and gymnast for 12 years, Dominique was a member of her high school honor role and was Prom Queen during her senior year. A resident of Silver Spring, Md., she has been featured in numerous national magazines for her outstanding personal and professional accomplishments and was named 1994 Sportsperson of the Year at the USA Gymnastics Congress.

Twenty-five-year old Scott Keswick is the only gymnast to capture four USA Gymnastics National Championships (1989, 1990, 1991, and 1994) on rings. A 1992 Olympian, he scored his first perfect 10 in international competition at the McDonald's American Cup on rings that same year. He has been a top performer on the Senior National Team for six years and, along with Dominique, was named the 1994 Sportsperson on the Year at the USA Gymnastics Congress. Born in Las Vegas and a resident of Los Angeles, the 5'4", 125-pound athlete is a 1993 graduate of UCLA with a degree in Math and Applied Science. Skiing, reading, movies and riding motorcycles are his favorite hobbies.

Dominique and Scott each received a $1,000 contribution to their training funds as part of their "Balancing It All" award, that was presented during McDonald's American Cup Media Day activities.

The McDonald's American Cup is a two-day, all-around competition featuring top gymnasts from around the world.

It will be televised live on NBC from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 4. This is the 13th consecutive year that McDonald's has sponsored this prestigious international competition.

McDonald's is also a major sponsor of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, as well as the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Team.

During the Games, Olympic athletes from around the world may eat at any of six McDonald's restaurants located in the athletes" village. This is the first time in Olympic history that quick service restaurants will be located within the athletes' housing complex. McDonald's has supported the Olympics since 1968.

McDonald's is the leading food service retailer in the global marketplace with more than 15,000 restaurants in 79 countries. About 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs.

# # #