Off Balance: A Memoir

[MaryClare]

What happened to her father? Is he still alive?

 

[RAFIKI]

He died in 2008/9ish IIRC. At London worlds I asked her to sign a photo of her family in IG (didn’t expect her to be there so didn’t have any of her cover issues with me, but I sent for them because Moceanu got me into this sport and I was obsessed). When this book came out I regretted asking her to do that.

 

[rlayt]

Was her father ever diagnosed? He obviously had some mental health challenges.

 

[JDB]

Dominique and her father made amends. Off Balance has photos of him at her wedding. He died of cancer.

 

[rlayt]

Maybe all that macho shit was due to his upbringing but the description made him seem very paranoid and erratic. Poor Domi.

 

[makam]

Dude couldn't seem to handle being challenged by his "inferiors" but seems like he was ready to lick the boots of anyone with more "authority" than he had, likely in the hopes that that authority would transfer to him. Adult oppositional defiant disorder? Poor Domi.

We always do "suppose Mykayla had good coaching from early on" but suppose Domi had good coaching that didn't do everything possible to break her and toss her away.

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter 11: Jennifer: Flash Forward

• Getting to know each other
  • Talked regularly on the phone, emails, texts. Couldn't get enough of hearing from each other
  • During an early conversation, Jen had mentioned an interest in getting back into gymnastics. She worked as an operations cast member at Disney and was interested in getting into aerials and acrobatics
  • One conversation she 'just knew' she could do what the acrobats were doing; the next she had a professional partner
  • Jennifer loved the workouts so strenuous she could barely lift her wheelchair into her car afterwards–she hadn't worked out this hard in four years
  • She was a bit nervous about silks because so many of the tricks require legs for support, but she was quickly doing roll ups, a scale mostly done by male acrobats because of the strength required
  • Jennifer and her partner Nate's trampoline warm up caught the attention of the soccer and volleyball players they shared a gym with and extended into a full length act
  • Dominique liked it was Jen bounced ideas off her and asked for input or feedback–she was desperate to do more for her
• Meeting in person
  • Christina, Dominique, and Jen brainstormed ways they could meet in person
  • Her sisters agreed that they should travel to see New Mom Dominique
  • Met Jen May 2008–picked her up at the airport, arriving midday, an hour and half before Christina's flight from Texas
  • It was surreal how much she was like Dominique and Christina–not just appearance, but the way she talked, laughed, moved her hands when she described things
  • When Christina arrived she got even more emotional–the circle was complete
  • Talked for hours back at Dominique's house
  • Mama and Tata
    • Avoided talking about Mama and Tata at first
    • How do you reconcile one sister being given up for adoption?
    • It was clear Jennifer had had a more stable childhood than her sisters
    • Told Jen that Mama and Tata had been asking a lot of questions and that they were supportive. Tata had been quite ill recently, but Mama hoped they'd be able to meet Jennifer someday even though they were quite nervous
    • Jen seemed very composed and mature through this, and Dominique had to keep reminding herself Jennifer was only 20
  • It was a magical few days
• Performance
  • Jen and Nate's first performance in Orlando got them immediate media attention, and they started to land trampoline and silk performances, first in Florida and then around the world
  • Jen was invited to join the Brittany Spears tour
  • Dominique got to see them perform in Columbus, Ohio
  • That Jen had only been involved in aerial gymnastics for a year at that point was incredible
  • When Jennifer Bricker sets her mind to something, you'd better believe it will be happening