Congratulations to Dominique Dawes of Silver Spring and Gaithersburg High, who swept the gold medals in all-around and in all four events at the U.S. National Gymnastics championships at Nashville. First time anyone had in 25 years.

Shannon Miller, the Olympic and world champion, had to be content with five silvers. Dominique, the tiny dynamo from Montgomery County, who has rewritten the definition of the possible in the floor exercise tumbling run, is No. 1. The two are pretty mature at 17. Whether to persevere to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 is an agonizing question. Tough 13-year-olds are on the way up.

The national championship is a great achievement for Dominique, who is an inspiration to all girls with ambitions to excel in gymnastics, and to her coach, Kelli Hill of Gaithersburg. All Maryland can be proud of both.