For gymnast moceanu, life threw her off balance dominique moceanu is the youngest gymnast to win an olympic gold medal. The official facebook fan page of olympic champion, author, and businesswoman. Off balance, dominique moceanus memoir, paints a dark picture of legendary coach bela karolyi and of elite gymnastics. By the age of 11 she was a gymnastics champion having fallen in love with the sport after watching dominique moceanu win a gold medal for the us at. Olympic gymnast dominique moceanu details her physical and mental abuse during years of training with coach bela karolyi. But behind the broad smile and shining medals she hid heartache. Mar 26, 2017 in this book you see a candid look at the world of us elite gymnastics. Dominique helena moceanu is an american author and retired gymnast. She was only 14 years old, tiny 4 feet 4 inches tall. She refused to compromise with the book and poured her heart out.
Dominique received her bachelors degree in business administration from john carroll university just two months after the familys second child, vincent michael was born in march of 2009. She was a featured performer on britney spears circus tour 2009 and was the first handicapped high school tumbling champion in the state of illinois. Having recently achieved junior elite status, brittany morgan whos 12 but looks like a 9yearold and her family uproot from ohio to austin, texas, so brittany can train with the. A memoir by dominique moceanu in epub, fb2, fb3 download e book. Her pixyish appearance and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. Dominique moceanu speakers bureau and booking agent info. The bill, intended to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes, was introduced. Published on mar 30, 2017 gold medalist dominique moceanu and other former gymnasts testified about the alleged abuse they say they suffered while training. The senate judiciary committee held a hearing on the protecting young victims from sexual abuse act. Jun 06, 2012 dominique moceanu was the youngest member of the celebrated magnificent 7 gymnasts who won team gold at the 1996 olympic games.
Dominique moceanu, 14yearold darling of womens gold medal gymnastics team in atlanta in 1996, is forced to withdraw from us olympic gymnastics trials because of knee injury m by selena. In 2012, dominique released her candid, new york times bestselling memoir off balance. Producers told me, yeah when i was working for nbc they told us not to go near your story. Womens olympic gymnastics team, the first and only american womens team to take gold at the olympics. The olympian now 30, married, and a mother of two also. Jan 25, 2017 by the age of 11 she was a gymnastics champion having fallen in love with the sport after watching dominique moceanu win a gold medal for the us at the 1996 olympics.
Off balance vividly delineates each of the dominating characters who contributed to moceanu s rise to the top, from her stubborn father and longsuffering mother to her mercurial coach, bela karolyi. Moceanu was the youngest of the magnificent seven united states gymnasts in the 1996 summer olympics in atlanta. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Dominique moceanu, born 1981, was financially, emotionally, and physically abused by her parents, romanian immigrants dimitru and camelia moceanu, while being homeschooled for part of her high school years. Police are taking a second look at accusations that the father of olympic gymnast dominique moceanu was involved in a possible murderforhire plot, officials said friday. While dominiques athletic interests appeared to most as only a childhood hobby, gymnastics rapidly. Moceanu remains involved in gymnastics through camps and clinics across the country, and shes the author of a gymnasticsfocused young adult. Jun 05, 2012 off balance, by dominique moceanu, seemed a bit. An accomplished gymnast beyond her years, she was the youngest competitor at the junior pan american games in sao paulo, brazil, in 1992, where she won four gold medals and was the allaround silver medalist at age 10. Her love for the sport was influenced by olympic gold medalist, dominique moceanu. Aug 03, 2016 moceanu remains involved in gymnastics through camps and clinics across the country, and shes the author of a gymnasticsfocused young adult series, go for gold, as well as the 2012 memoir off. Complete dominique moceanu 96 tour boogie woogie choo choo train duration. This story shows the life of the youngest of the magnificent seven dominique moceanu who was a romanian descent american.
She now tours the country as an ambassador for the sport, doing clinics and summer camps and speaking with young gymnasts. Dominique moceanu won an olympic gold medal along with her magnificent 7 teammates at the 1996 atlanta olympics. Star gymnasts testify to senate judiciary committee about sex. Olympic gold medalist dominique moceanu, bronze medalist jamie dantzscher and national champion rhythmic gymnast jessica howard were among those to testify tuesday at a senate judiciary committee. Jennifer bricker born october 1, 1987 is an american acrobat and aerialist. Off balance sheds light on world of elite gymnastics the.
As the daughter of two former romanian gymnasts, it was almost inevitable that dominique moceanu would follow in her parents well balanced footsteps. Dominique moceanu is the youngest american gymnast to win an olympic gold medal and the youngest to win the allaround title at the us senior nationals. This dream lay dormant in my heart for many years until the perfect opportunity presented itself in october of 2017. In 1998, dominique moceanu broke the image of the happy, perky. Aug 11, 2016 2 decades later, gymnast dominique moceanu looks back on her career dominique moceanu was the youngest u.
Olympic stars testify to congress about sex abuse at usa. Dominique moceanu homeschoolings invisible children. Olympic gymnast finds longlost acrobat sibling video balance and poise are two of the most important aspects of gymnastics. Jul 30, 2012 for gymnast moceanu, life threw her off balance dominique moceanu is the youngest gymnast to win an olympic gold medal. It goes back and forth between the story of moceanu discovering the existence of, and later, meeting, the sister her parents gave up for adoption because she was born without legs, and the inside story of. Exolympian dominique moceanu says nbc tried to bury. While i would love to say i was shocked it simply wasnt to be. Dominique moceanu is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. On march 28, 2017, dominique testified, with fellow gymnasts, in front of the united states senate to help pass new legislation. It goes back and forth between the story of moceanu discovering the existence of, and later, meeting, the sister her parents gave up for adoption because she was born without legs, and the inside story of dominique s gymnastic career. Her life on and off the gym floor has been difficult. Off balance vividly delineates each of the dominating characters who contributed to moceanus rise to the top, from her stubborn father and longsuffering mother to her mercurial coach, bela karolyi.
While dominique s athletic interests appeared to most as only a childhood hobby, gymnastics rapidly. Jul, 2017 olympic gymnast dominique moceanu details her physical and mental abuse during years of training with coach bela karolyi. Dominique moceanu, whos speaking with her son vincent, won olympic gymnastics gold in 1996, and is an advocate for protecting gymnasts from. Olympic gymnast alleges nbc buried her story about.
Dominiqude moceanu never let youth stand in her way. Dominique moceanu says usa gymnastics ceo at the forefront. Winning team by dominique moceanu, alicia thompson. From now on our young athletes can be safer than ever. On november 14, 2017, the united states senate passed the legislative bill with bipartisan support. Jun 12, 2012 dominique moceanu is the youngest american gymnast to win an olympic gold medal and the youngest to win the allaround title at the us senior nationals. Dominique moceanu was the youngest member of the celebrated magnificent 7 gymnasts who won team gold at the 1996 olympic games.
Here, moceanu finally shares the haunting stories of competition, her years of hiding injuries and pain out of fear of retribution from her. She was a member of the goldmedalwinning united states womens gymnastics team, the magnificent seven, at the 1996 summer olympics in atlanta. Olympic gold medalist dominique moceanu displayed these characteristics at a worldclass level during her career, which included a team gold medal at the 1996 olympics in. Feb 26, 2017 dominique moceanu, whos speaking with her son vincent, won olympic gymnastics gold in 1996, and is an advocate for protecting gymnasts from predators, and looks to help reform the culture of the. Dominique moceanu describes a culture of fear and humiliation guardian sport and agencies tue 28 mar 2017 15. In this book you see a candid look at the world of us elite gymnastics. At the young age of 3 and a half, dominique began taking gymnastics classes in highland park, il.
Dominique moceanu generally travels from and can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. See more ideas about olympic gymnastics, gymnastics and olympics. True inspiration jen bricker dominique moceanu youtube. Jen bricker followed an unconventional life path to become. Channel of olympic gold medalist, dominique moceanu. Bricker, who was only 9 years old at the time, idolized moceanu when she saw her on tv during the olympics. Gold medalist dominique moceanu warned us 10 years ago about abuse in usa gymnastics. Off balance by dominique moceanu overdrive rakuten. She was a member of the goldmedalwinning united states womens gymnastics team the magnificent seven at the 1996 summer olympics in atlanta. Mar 30, 2017 published on mar 30, 2017 gold medalist dominique moceanu and other former gymnasts testified about the alleged abuse they say they suffered while training. Dominique moceanu has spoken out in support of the three former team usa gymnasts who bravely came forward in a 60 minutes piece sunday evening to accuse former usa gymnastics team doctor larry nassar of sexual abuse and contends that the culture within the organization can set the stage for such atrocities to take place.
But behind the fame, the flawless floor routines, and. Moceanu begins her book describing how she found out for the first time that she had a sister. See more ideas about gymnastics, olympic gymnastics and olympics. As a member of the womens gymnastics team, she won a gold medal at the 1996 olympic games. I have tremendous admiration for the gymnasts who have bravely come forward to share their painful stories. On november 14, 2017, the senate passed the legislative bill with unanimous support and dominique was universally hailed as successful crusader for the rights and safety of young athletes.
She was a member of the goldmedalwinning united states womens gymnastics team the magnificent seven at the 1996 summer olympics in. When moceanu was 3, her parents, romanian immigrants, enrolled her in a gymnastics class. Exolympian dominique moceanu says nbc tried to bury her stories of abuse posted at 1. In 2018, my lifelong dream was realized when i opened the dominique moceanu gymnastics center, which is a center for instructional gymnastics, gymnastics camps, yoga and more. Gold medalist dominique moceanu warned us 10 years ago about. In december of 2007, a ninemonth pregnant moceanu picked up a package from the post office. Born without legs, she was placed for adoption by her parents. Dominique helena moceanu is an american author and retired american gymnast. At fourteen years old, dominique moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 u.
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