Dominique Moceanu

Dominique Moceanu was one of the “Magnificent Seven” female gymnasts that won the team title at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Born in California to Romanian immigrants, Moceanu trained in Illinois, Florida, and Texas, making her first US team in 1992 when she won five medals at the Pan American Junior Championships.

Moceanu competed at the 1995 World Championships, winning a silver medal on balance beam. Expected to be a medal threat at Atlanta, Moceanu sustained a stress fracture in her leg after the US Nationals, and had to miss the Olympic Trials. She was placed on the team based on her Nationals scores, but was at less than her best in Atlanta.

After the Olympics Moceanu toured and did exhibitions with her teammates. She continued to compete, winning the all-around at the 1998 Goodwill Games, but retired in 2000 when injuries prevented her from making another Olympic team. She attempted a comeback in 2005-06, and competed at the 2006 US Classic.

Moceanu later coached gymnastics and studied business management, graduating from John Carroll University. In 1998, at age 17, Moceanu had sued for emancipation from her parents, claiming that they had squandered much of her gymnastics earnings. The court order was approved, although Moceanu later reconciled with her parents.