Dominique Moceanu
From Gold Medal glory in '96, to family turmoil in '98, and now in '99, Dominique Moceanu has endured various injuries and setbacks in her comeback attempt at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. However, she remains focused on her goal, and is moving on with her life after all the personal problems she's been through during the past year. She was gracious enough to take some time out to do this interview for Top Dawg Gymnastics!
TDG: How did your knee surgery go, and what is the current timetable for your return to gymnastics? When can you train again (full strength), and when do you plan to compete again?
Dominique: Well my knee has been a chronic injury from about a year ago, and it had to have some arthroscopic surgery done to it because it just kept bothering me and the estimated time is 3 months to 4.
TDG: How is your back healing? What is the extent of that injury??
Dominique: My back is getting a little better since I am not really able to do anything, it is being rested, so it feels ok, now we will see when I get back into the gym. It should heal in about 3 months as well hopefully. It is a scotty dog stress fracture.
TDG: Before you went down with injuries, what new skills were you learning in gym, and what elements do you feel you worked on the most since we last saw you compete, at Nationals in '98?
Dominique: Actually I had gotten everything back form my former routines just about. I hadn't added anything yet because my routines have plenty of difficulty in them so I didn't need to, I was working Yurchenko double twist though.
TDG: Since your and your family reached a private settlement, what types of contact have you had with them? Do you return home often (or at all)? How is your relationship with your sister Christina?
Dominique: I have a great relationship with my sister, she is awesome and I would do anything for her. My Mom and I are close too, and my Dad is fine now, it has passed and we settled it and now everything is ok. I don't go to Houston very often at all because of rehab and well I was in training a while back so that took up most of my time.
TDG: After your gymnastics career is over, what type of career do you hope to pursue?
Dominique: I want to start modeling and acting I think that would be lots of fun and maybe get into sports commentating as well.
TDG: Could you compare and contrast the coaching styles of Luminita Misenco and Bela Karoyli? Who do you feel has done more for you, in gymnastics or elsewhere?
Dominique: Well for the time period that Bela coached me he was the best for me, he got me where I was in the sport. He had a stricter and different style of coaching, it's hard to go into detail but Lumi usually is calm with me and we just try to talk but she is also tough when she has to be, so in some ways alike and in some different.
TDG: When I interviewed Jaycie a few months ago, she said outside of Amanda Borden, you were the one member of the Mag 7 who she was closest to. Who do you feel closest to out of all of your Atlanta teammates and why?
Dominique: I definitely think Jaycie and I have kept in touch the best and we have been pretty close, just cause I guess we get along really well and we have alot in common. I just love that girl bunches!!
TDG: What did you do with your dog Sydney when you moved to Colorado?
Dominique: My best friends mom took it over because I couldn't take it with me, so they take care of it now.
TDG: Do you still have the same car, a convertable Mustang?
Dominique: I drive a Pontiac Firebird Formula now.
TDG: Is your belly button pierced?
Dominique: Yes it was, it fell out and it closed up but I am getting it done again in the next week.
TDG: Which gymnast, past or present, do you admire the most, and for what reasons?
Dominique: I admire Mary Lou because she had an awesome personality and she came back after she had knee surgery and overcame alot in her life as did many athletes out there today. She has always been a favorite of mine.
TDG: How did you enjoy doing commentary for the NBC website, and do you think you'll do more of things like that in the future?
Dominique: Definitely, I loved it and it was alot of fun, I enjoy that type of stuff.
TDG: In a recent article, you said you are starting up school at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. What kind of classes are you taking?
Dominique: I am taking some basics right now, like College Algebra and an English class right now because I am rehabing and don't want to take too much time and overload myself with school, but I really needed to get out a little and start so I am excited for now anyways!
TDG: And finally... what do you think of our page, Top Dawg Gymnastics?
Dominique: I think the website is sweet, I would visit it any time!!
Thank you Dominique! We really appreciate you taking the time to give us the interview, best of luck to you in the future!