When Dominique Dawes answered the phone, she was doing what every native D.C. resident dreads most: finding parking.

But Dawes, who became famous overnight in 1996 as a member of the "Magnificent Seven", the first-ever USA gold-medal winning gymnastic team, got a little help in her search -- from the White House.

Andrew H. Walker/Women�s Sports Foundation/Getty ImagesDominique Dawes, along with Drew Brees, are co-chairing a fitness committee for President Obama.

"Oh, I might get clearance for White House parking!" she exclaims going exasperated to excited in approximately two seconds as an attendant asked her to hang on (word has it following a certain party-crashing, security at the White House has become even tighter).

After being appointed as a co-chair to the President's Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, Dawes is a frequent visitor to the White House and a fond acquaintance of the Obamas, whom she campaigned for in 2008. She spent a day a few days ago, in fact, on the South Lawn playing outside with Michelle Obama and 80 kids they were educating about the importance of exercise and nutrition.

"This young girl really wanted to compete with me in jump-roping," she said, laughing. "And I'm like, it's on. And I'm like, I'm good, I jump rope 30 minutes a day."

But the three-time Olympian lost.

"I think someone threw something at me," she joked. "It's crazy. Some of these kids just want to show you up."

In addition to co-chairing the committee with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, which advocates nutrition in school and the importance of being active, Dawes has made a comfortable living as a motivational speaker, as well as running gymnastics clinics.

Getting children to eat healthy and exercise is a passion for her, though, and she said she's excited now to be able to work so closely with a leader who not only emphasizes childhood nutrition, but women's sports as well.