Off Balance: A Memoir

[MaryClare]

My problem is that I just don’t believe that, had her comeback been successful, she’d have been anywhere near as critical of USAG/Karoylis

 

[cftmoonlight79]

Dominique owns and coaches at a gym in my Region. I havent had the chance to really see in her in action a whole lot yet. I look forward to the opportunity to see her style.

 

[phoenix7]

On a different note, I've finally read both books and caught up on these posts, mostly alternating chapters (minus taking all of the nationals events in the 1995 book in one chunk), and it's mind-bending the contrast. The 1995 book really does feel like it was Bela-dictated in some ways, and I can't decide if it feels like he had input pre-publishing or if she knew the party line and made sure to stick to it. I can't imagine she proof-read it with mistakes and misnamed skills rampant in the book.

Bela's Romanian gymnasts - not just Nadia, but also her less prominent teammates - had to learn his version of events and parrot them to the press, so Id be surprised if he didn't work something similar with Dominique when he had the chance.

 

[Hatsumomo]

What was the Karolyis' American Olympic medal track record as coaches (pre-NTC role)? It seems they had their tantrums and abandoned their gymnasts when they didn't turn out to be the golden girls.

Decisions shouldn't be made in closed-door sessions. If she were in charge, she'd go back to doing it solely through public competitions, with top scores at Trails qualifying peaking athletes.

Kim Kelly co-signs

 

[QuietColours]

What was the Karolyis' American Olympic medal track record as coaches (pre-NTC role)? It seems they had their tantrums and abandoned their gymnasts when they didn't turn out to be the golden girls.


Kim Kelly co-signs

I thought about that when I was reading this too. It was actually interesting, because it felt a bit like Dominique was treating the '90s era of gymnastics as the way it was done properly for team selection and the selection process in the '00s as newly non-transparent. She doesn't mention Kim or bring up '92 at all, and it felt like a very odd oversight to skip something that would have driven her point for the need for transparency further home, but it also would have ruined the 'good old days' feeling of those paragraphs on how things used to be done right when the Karolyis weren't the NTC.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Kim Kelly is one of those odd examples that would fit either narrative. Was them doing a closed-door second Trials and removing her from the Olympic team after she earned her spot at the first Trials messed up? Yes. But when you consider her overall track record of being able to (kinda sorta) put it together at domestic meets, only to completely fall apart in international competition every single time, did removing her from the Olympic team end up being the correct result? Also yes. I posted her competition record on the board many moons ago and looking at it listed out like that, I can't totally blame anybody looking for a way to not take her with Olympic medals on the line.

 

[RedBirdie]

What was the Karolyis' American Olympic medal track record as coaches (pre-NTC role)? It seems they had their tantrums and abandoned their gymnasts when they didn't turn out to be the golden girls.

Not good, imo. I think Phoebe Mills was their only individual Olympic medalist (BB bronze) outside of the boycotted 1984 games.

Heck, they didn't have an individual world medalist until 1991.

1983: no one on team
1984: boycotted mess Olympics that shouldn't count (2 on team, 1 team medal, 6 individual medals)
1985: no one on team
1987: 3 on team, no medals
1988: 3 on team, 1 individual medal
1989: no one on team
1991: 4 on team, 1 team medal, 3 individual medals
1992 (worlds): 3 on team, 3 individual medals
1992 (Olympics): 3 on team, 1 team medal
1993: did not coach
1994: did not coach
1995: 1 on team, 1 team medal, 1 individual medal
1996 (worlds): no one on team
1996 (Olympics): 2 on team, 1 team medal

1984 is doing a heavy lift as far as their medal count. It accounts for more than 35% of the medals won by their gymnasts.

From 1985-1996, their gymnasts won 13 medals, including team medals. Shannon Miller won 16 from 1991-1996. Dominique Dawes won 7 from 1992-1996.

 

[Hatsumomo]

That's what I suspected. I really appreciate you laying it out like that; thank you.

 

[makam]

Their press was more successful than their coaching results.

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter 14: Family

• Personal life
  • Married Mike on Nov 4, 2006
  • About a year later, daughter Carmen Noel was born (Dec 25, 2007)
  • Son Vincent Michael born March 2009
  • Being a mother meant changing priorities, but wouldn't change it for anything
• Relationship with Tata
  • Reconciled prior to his death from cancer in 2008 (cancer of lacrimal gland)
  • Never saw him sick in any way as a child, so it was a huge blow to him and their family
  • Fought it well for the first few years, but there wasn't much research on how to treat the condition despite receiving top treatment
  • Constant battle for five years
  • Began opening up to his family for the first time. He regretted much of his past, and carrying the guilt and remorse had been heavy on him. They began healing together, and they were able to both finally release their anger and really forgive each other
  • The final year was very difficult. Their parents house also almost burned down; Mama was trying to care for both Tata and Maia and she accidentally left a candle burning in her prayer room when taking Tata to the doctor. The fire destroyed the second story and much of the first floor, including Christina's bedroom–she lost almost all of her belongings
  • They picked out as much as they could then went to a hotel for the night. They were too tired to take everything in from the car and a thief broke into the car and stole everything else–Mama's jewlery, including a special Rolex Tata had given her for their 27th anniversary; Christina's laptop
  • Tata did his best to help Mama repair the fire damage so they could sell it and move to a new home
  • Tata was getting much weaker at this point and she is grateful he was able to walk her down the aisle when she got married
  • In fall 2008, while pregnant with Vincent, she moved back to Houston for a time to support her family as Tata was losing his battle with cancer. It was especially hard on Mama, who had never known anything except Tata–she'd never been on her own.
  • Tata asked Mama if she would forgive him, and she said of course, without hestitation
  • Dominique tried to stay strong for her family. It was difficult as she is a naturally emotional person, plus pregnancy hormones. It was heartbreaking to watch him decline
  • Last coherent conversation was at the hospital a week before he moved to hospice. Dementia was setting in. He kept asking what hospice was, and she kept re-explaining it. Took a photo of their family at the hospital–it was the last one
  • Mama was making herself sick staying at his side the last weeks. She wanted to be by his side when he passed and had had to make her leave to eat
  • When the phone rang Oct 12, 2008 in the middle of the night they knew
  • Knows that he loved them and did his best–she understands better now that she's a parent herself. Forgiveness is purifying for the soul, and she's grateful they were able to forgive each other before he died
• New Beginnings
  • Two new beginnings after his passing: Her son, Vincent, and Jennifer
  • By winter 2009 they knew it was time for Jennifer to meet Mama
  • Mike and Dominique hosted Christmas. Mama was very nervous–she'd heard much from Dominique and Christina about Jen, but she had a lot of guilt and remorse
  • She hugged Jen, long and tight. Dominique watched, trying not to cry herself. She wondered if Mama noticed Jennifer's resemblance to Tata in particular
  • Jen asked if Mama ever wondered about her
  • Mama told her she'd thought of her often. She did her best to be honest with Jennifer
  • Jennifer asked if there were any pictures from when Mama was pregnant with Jennifer, and Dominique was surprised when Mama said yes. She said she would give it to Jennifer. Dominique thought that she wanted to see it too
  • Mama asked Jennifer about her childhood, parents, and siblings. Jennifer was very generous with Mama, reassuring her that she'd had a wonderful childhood and that her parents had taught her to never resent her biological parents
  • Sat talking until one in the morning
• Gymnastics
  • Would she let her kids do gymnastics? Yes! They already are
  • It was never the sport that harmed her, it was the self-serving adults surrounding it
  • She'll be thrilled if they share her love of it, but she wants them to be exposed to many different activities so they'll find what they love in life
  • Gymnastics will always be a part of her life.
  • She'll continue to be an advocate for the sport and push for fairness in women's gymnastics across the board

About the author, direct quote

Largely considered one of the greatest and most accomplished gymnasts of the modern era, Dominique Moceanu, born in 1981, is the youngest American gymnast, male or female, to win an Olympic gold medal (at age 14), and the youngest to win a Senior National All-Around Title (at age thirteen!). She was also the youngest gymnast to compete at the World Championships, to earn a spot on the US National Team, and the youngest athlete ever featured on a Wheaties box!

Born to Romanian parents, she started her gymnastics career at the ripe old age of three.

Today Dominique is happily married to Dr. Michael Canales, a gymnast turned foot and ankle
surgeon. The couple lives in Cleveland with their two children, Carmen and Vincent.