Status
Available
Publication
Touchstone (2012), Edition: First Edition, 256 pages
Description
At fourteen, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastic team, the first and only American women's team to take gold at the Olympics. Her pixie-like appearance, passion for the sport, and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. But behind the fame, the flawless floor routines, and the million-dollar smile, her life was a series of challenges and hardships. From her stubborn father and long-suffering mother, to her notorious coach, Bela Karolyi, Off Balance reveals how each of the dominating characters contributed to her rise to the top. She shares the stories of competition, her years of hiding injuries and pain out of fear of retribution, and how she hit rock bottom after being publicly scorned by her father. But medals, murder plots, drugs, and daring escapes aside, the most unique aspect of her life is the family secret that Moceanu discovers, opening a new and unexpected chapter in her adult life.--From publisher description.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member klburnside
I happened to see that Dominique Moceanu had written a memoir, so I thought it would be something a little different to read. It starts with her discovery when she is in her 20s that she has a sister who was born without legs that was given up for adoption right after she was born. The book
The writing style was juvenile with a lot of italics and exclamation points, but it made it a quick read, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
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alternates between Dominique developing a relationship with her long lost sister and stories of her gymnastics career. She tells of her abusive father who pushed too hard, the emotional abuse inflicted on her by Bela and Marta Karolyi as she trained for the 1996 Olympics, her experiments with drugs and alcohol after her early stardom, the lawsuit she filed against her parents for basically stealing all the money she made, struggles with body image, etc. The writing style was juvenile with a lot of italics and exclamation points, but it made it a quick read, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
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LibraryThing member alekee
I got caught up in this book, and tried to imagine not really ever having a childhood. Dominique Moceanu started gymnastics at the age of three. She began competing at such a young age and winning Olympic Gold Medals at the age of 13.
We explore her home life, and the moving and practicing. Finally
Be prepared to wish you were able to help this young child, and then along comes another secret....the missing piece?
With the 2012 Olympics approaching, we are given an eye opening look into the inner sanctum of and Elite Gymnast.
While the book does seem to keep repeating facts, it does tell a good and true story.
I received this book from Simon and Schuster and was not required to give a positive review.
We explore her home life, and the moving and practicing. Finally
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ending up with the Karolyi's and their style of training!Be prepared to wish you were able to help this young child, and then along comes another secret....the missing piece?
With the 2012 Olympics approaching, we are given an eye opening look into the inner sanctum of and Elite Gymnast.
While the book does seem to keep repeating facts, it does tell a good and true story.
I received this book from Simon and Schuster and was not required to give a positive review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
My inner 14-year-old was very excited to read this book and my 30-year-old self was not disappointed either. Dominique Moceanu, the youngest American gymnast to win a gold medal, spills all here in her memoir. From dealing with a verbally abusive father and coaches to meeting a long-lost sister in
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her late-20s to being denied a comeback in gymnastics because of Marta Karolyi's control over the sport, there isn't a dull moment in this memoir. Recommended for fans of gymnastics and anyone (like me) who remembers cheering on the Magnificent Seven during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. This may have crossover appeal for teens; I think they'd be into the dramatic story (most of which takes place over Dominique's teenage years), but I'm not sure they'd know who Dominique Moceanu is. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I love reading about gymnastics and this one did not disappoint. So glad she connected with the sister she never knew she had. The amount of work, pain, and starvation these poor girls go through. I will never look at the Karolis with admiration again, rather with disdain. Remarkable how rounded
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Dominique turned out despite everything she went through. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meggo
What is it that drives us to achieve almost superhuman feats of physical prowess? In many cases it appears that a dysfunctional family is lurking in the background, as is the case with Dominique Moceanu, 1996 Olympic Gold medalist. This book is really a fascinating read, and it has it all - -
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overbearing father, abuse, vicious coaches, nurturing coaches, tales of practice, heartbreak, financial ruin, drugs, and elite-level gymnastics. A quick read, to be sure, but a fascinating look at the underside of elite gymnastics. I have to say that this book does not paint a flattering picture of the Karolyi camp or its influence on the US gymnastics program. Worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookPurring
I love the Magnificent Seven, so when this memoir was released back in the summer I made a mental note of reading it during the winter break (school work etc). It's no surprised my favorite chapters of this memoir were those that deal with gymnastics and Domi's experience in the Olympics. I often
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skimmed the chapters in between because I knew an Olympics/Gymnastics chapter was coming up. I have to say I found it hard to be interested in Moceanu's personal chapters regarding her sister Jennifer, sure the story is shocking and interesting at first. Moceanu's parent's gave Jennifer up for adoption and Dominique never knew until later in life. But once that loses the shock value, which is pretty quickly, since it's in the summary for the book, I just wanted to move on to the Olympic chapters. As well there's some juicy gossip on the Karolys which I found entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member DDay
Dominique has such an amazing story that it's a shame that this book isn't better. It was easy to read and engaging, but it often felt like a life summary instead of a life story. I got this book after watching the amazing segment about her and her sister on HBO's Real Sports, but it didn't really
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seem like I learned a lot more from the book than I did from the tv. It still was an enjoyable and interesting read, but I really think she could have used better collaborators who could have gotten her to go a little deeper . Show Less
LibraryThing member KamGeb
This was a fun book and I really felt like I learned a lot about gymnastics and Dominique from this book. However, at times it seemed a little too "politically correct" about certain aspects of her life.
LibraryThing member Birdo82
Ms. Moceanu's book is a touching and fulfilling peek into the unberbelly of the gynmastics world.
LibraryThing member Iambookish
A very insightful look at Women's Gymnastics in the United States. It will certainly make me watch this summer olympic competition with a different perspective. Moceanu was only 14 when she won a gold medal back in 1996 in Atlanta and after reading her story it's amazing that she is such a well
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adjusted and self confident young woman today. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
Interesting to see how the cultural divide influenced how the author was treated with her coaching versus that of her compatriots. Proof that success is not always what it's cracked up to be. Really wish I could help her reform the gymnastics world.
LibraryThing member bribre01
I really enjoyed this book, both for its story about a long lost sister and it's insiders look at the sport of gymnastics.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
256 p.; 6.12 inches
ISBN
1451608659 / 9781451608656