 Dominique Moceanu with husband Mike Canales and their daughter Carmen Photo © Dominique Moceanu |
Still a huge fan favorite, Moceanu has received a lot of press recently because of her comments about the current Olympic selection process. Here's what she had to say about the controversy, and more on what Moceanu, now 26, is up to nowadays.
What do you think of the women’s Olympic team?
The team itself was the right team selected and the girls all deserve very much to be on the team.
You’ve been outspoken about the selection process that chose the team. Could you talk about that a little?
I feel that Martha Karolyi should step down. The Karolyis' nearly 100 percent control needs to come to an end. USA Gymnastics is run very mysteriously, and a lot of gymnasts have been threatened to not speak out, and if they do, there are repercussions and backlash. Yes, I am receiving a little bit of heat for what I've said, but I'm receiving much more support through e-mails and calls and people saying, Thank God that you're speaking out and that somebody is speaking the truth.
I think that we forget that this is the individual coaches like Valeri Liukin and Liang Chow, Peter Zhao and Mihai Brestyan… that they're the principle reason for the success of team USA, not the Karolyi system.
I'm not against the training camps that the women's team has. I think camps are a positive area where the gymnasts get together and see what everyone is doing, bond, form a relationship, and increase camaraderie. I think that's fantastic. But I think that it can be done in a healthier way where someone isn't running a dictatorship and treating people poorly because she's got all the power.
I'm happy with my accomplishments; people are taking some things out of context. I have nothing to be bitter about and I don't have sour grapes. I do believe that the truth has to come out because the Karolyis have worn out their welcome.
I was part of the system in 2000 and 2006. I was there at the camps and witnessed the way people were treated. When you're at the top, Martha Karolyi loves you and treats you a little more kindly, but as soon as you have an injury or something she forgets about you and she moves on.
I think this system is why we're seeing less and less senior elites. A lot of them don't want to be at that level with that kind of treatment and brutality, and they lose the love of the sport. We should not let that happen. We should have girls with healthy experiences that love the sport. And I think that's not the case.
We need a more transparent set of rules. In what other sport do you see the Olympic team selected at someone's backyard with a selected-only audience and selected-only media? Why not pick the Olympic team in front of the 13,000 pumped fans that were in Philadelphia at the Trials? The girls deserve that. I know the girls at one point asked [USA Gymnastics President] Steve Penny to please announce the team, and he said no, Martha doesn't want that. Why does she have so much power?
Do you think the selection process contributes to more injuries?
I don't have that proof, but yes I do think so. When I was at a training camp I witnessed an injury right there. Amanda Castillo had an acute injury on vault, and my husband [a podiatric surgeon] helped diagnose the injury. There was no doctor on staff; nobody there to help her with this injury.
My husband was thinking, Thank God I was there to help her out. There was a trainer, but the trainer pretty much does whatever Martha Karolyi wants. They don't always look out for the athletes' best interest. And not that doctors can do everything immediately, on the spot, but I think it's another set of eyes to be there.
Once you get to those camps, everyone has to push their girls harder than they would push them at home, to impress Martha. There have been so many injuries at camp that I think are related to this. Obviously, I can't prove it, but I wish we had a database of injuries in place, to help us see what we can to do prevent them, and I wish we had a doctor on staff. I find it so hard to believe that there aren't these two things.
An HBO Real Sports segment last night included an interview with you. How did you feel about the way it turned out?
I felt that the final quote on the HBO show was taken out of context. I said I would put my daughter in gymnastics, but when it came to the elite scene, if she made it there, we would go for the college route. I think it's a healthier route, and that gymnasts have much better experiences in college. They made it seem as though I wouldn't put my daughter in the sport.
In the recent press, I'm very disappointed in what Kim Zmeskal has said. She's had beef with me since I called her out for being an unethical athlete representative two years ago. It's a shame that she can't think for herself. I remember when they abused her too. She was crying on my shoulder when Bela called her fat, put her on the scale, and made her run outside wearing a sweatsuit in the dead heat of summer. That happened in the very gym that the 2008 Olympic selection team camp happened. If she thinks that that's okay -- that that's fair treatment -- that's one thing, but I guarantee 99 percent of people wouldn't think that that's okay behavior.
In general, I think some of my quotes have been taken out of context recently so I'm trying to make sure that I'm clear. I love this sport. Why else would I go against the grain? This is a tough battle. I feel like my old [Olympic] teammates are throwing me under the bus because they don't want to say anything. Most of them didn't train with the Karolyis one on one. I spent most of my younger childhood years from 1992 to 1996 with them, and I know what they're like.
I understand that not everyone had that experience. I reached the Olympic level and am so proud that I represented my country. I'm certainly not against hard work. My goodness I know about sacrifices. I'm the first to say, Yes you need discipline, yes you need to work hard. I encourage that in all the athletes I coach. But at the same time, the poor treatment of athletes can't be justified.
 Dominique Moceanu in 1996 Photo © 2008 Steve Lange |
I can name a few of them just to scratch the surface. One time, Martha grabbed me by the back of the neck when I collapsed in the gym because of a tibial stress fracture. They didn't believe me for so long, and I was limping, and I collapsed twice before they even realized that I needed help. The second time, she grabbed me and shoved me over to the phone. She told me to call my parents because maybe I should go to a doctor.
In another case, Bela put me on the scale in front of the entire team at the 1995 World Championships. He berated me and belittled me in front of everyone. That kind of treatment is unnecessary. I was 70 pounds!
Would you like to get involved in USA Gymnastics to try to change these aspects of the sport?
That's still to be debated right now. I don't know if I want a position there. I'd love to be involved, but they've never wanted me to be involved. I'd have to be careful with what I get involved in after being so outspoken.
If it became a fair system and was something that was more ethical and something I believed in, then of course, I would love to be a part of that change. USA Gymnastics does not need Bela and Martha Karolyi anymore. The sport will survive, and the success will continue because of these excellent personal coaches.
Do you have similar concerns about the men’s selection process?
I think the men's selection is very similar now to the women's. David Sender -- the 2008 National Champion -- was overlooked; Sean Golden -- with amazing performances -- was overlooked; Raj Bhavsar is devastated right now because he was kept off the team again. How do you justify keeping Raj off the team when you say you've crunched the numbers? Can you show us how you crunched the numbers? What kind of hidden system is being used? What has to be so secretive here?
The athletes know they have to do a good job, but it's difficult because there is this gray area where there is subjective criteria that isn't disclosed. In 1996 we knew we had to be in the top seven, and if you made that you were on the team. It was based on your performance. And we were able to win the Olympics that year.
There should be a rule that explains how specialists are treated and how they can get their chance: they have to win their event or be in the top three -- something like that. I'm not against selection camps 100 percent, I just think that there's a more fair way to do it, and a way to be more respectful to the athletes.
Who are your medal picks for Beijing?
If everyone hits -- which would be a complete miracle -- but if it happens, mathematically, China will win the women's team gold. They have about a 1.7 gain in A score. But not everyone hits. You just never know who will win. I want our team to succeed, of course! I think the USA team is very strong -- as strong as the 1996 Olympic team was -- but you never know until you prove it there.
In the all-around I think Shawn Johnson is the heavy favorite. Shawn and Nastia Liukin could go 1-2. If they let Chellsie Memmel compete all-around on the first day, and she qualifies, who knows? Chellsie could win the whole thing too!
I think Shawn's start values are higher and she's been so solid, that she has a lot going for her too.
What’s it like to be a new mom?
I love it. It's been so rewarding and it's such a different aspect of life: changing diapers, and watching her go through her phases of growing. It's such an exciting time for me.
 Dominique Moceanu at the 1995 Worlds Photo © Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images |
Yes. I have nine classes, then I graduate and I'll have my business management degree. Starting up a business might be something I'm interested in. Right now I'm not sure if that's the route I want to go. I have to see with Carmen growing and if we have another child soon. I want to be a stay-at-home mom for awhile, and we'd like to have two or three kids eventually. We'll just see how it goes.
I'm also working on a children's book series for gymnastics right now, and working with some charities on a few projects.
Are you coaching gymnastics?
I haven't been in the gym for awhile because after I delivered Carmen I really wanted to be a great mom. I may go back though.
You ended up getting a legal separation from your father Dumitru when you were age 17. How is your relationship with him now?
I have a very good relationship with him now. My Dad has changed in the last five years. He's been more mellow and he respects me a lot more. The cancer has mellowed him some.
He has a very rare cancer of the lacrimal glands. He had a tumor removed several years ago, and he's been through treatments and radiation. We've been told it's terminal at this point. So we're just making things easier for him and letting him do what he needs to do to feel comfortable. It's tough and it's part of life, and all we can do is support him right now.
How is the rest of your family?
My mother [Camelia] and I have always had a fantastic relationship and if anything, we've gotten closer in my 20s and since I've become a mother. She's always been the rock of our family.
My sister Christina is doing well. She's in college with a volleyball scholarship at Wharton County Junior College. She's all grown up!
What advice would you give the 2008 Olympians?
I would tell them to enjoy every minute of it, because it happens so quickly and it can be so overwhelming. Be proud to represent your country, and don't let anyone take away from that experience. Try to really enjoy it even though it can be difficult at times. No matter what happens, know that you deserve to be there even if you mess up.
Comments
You go Dom! Many, many fans agree with you. Denying those young women the glory of being named to the team during the Trials broadcast was unconscionable. They sacrifice so much for so little reward compared to some other sports. Not to mention all the rest of the Karolyis’ control is proven wrong by the individual coaches’ success. I hope you are heard by the USAG power!
USAG has tried to pretend abuse doesn’t exsist on all levels. I am glad to see someone so prestigious and knowledgable speak out. We seem to forget that the bottom line is that these are human beings – young kids! They are strong and hard working and determined, but they are children and teenagers and they need protection and nurturing as well as coaching and training!
I agree, I’m so glad someone who knows is finally saying this stuff. I believe herthat she cares about the sport. She is trying to make it better, but I worry that she is not going to be able to really do anything about this by just talking about it. I guess it’s a good first step.
Dom’s comments about the men’s team selections are interesting. My reply to her below and would love to hear her reply in comments (she actually asked for someone to prove the numbers, etc.)
1. Calcs show that the team is NOT better off swapping Raj in with any of the current 6:
http://gymblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/us-mens-team-is/#comment-1419
2. She notes that Sender and Golden and Raj all were not selected, but fails to say who should be let go. Does she really think there are 3 people who should be off the team–who? Also, if we had switched those 3 places, would we just be having the same discussion wrt people left off?
3. Sender is an interesting case as he actually would have had more of a shot in a Marta type system with more judgement and later team picking. (However his numbers don’t justify putting him on the team regardless…because of the 3-up system. He’s just not adding enough in different events.)
I think the idea of having Trials be the decider is an interesting one. More American. Would make that event more appealing. And would put more power in the hands of the athletes…so that they don’t have to worry about kissing up…their scores carry them. There probably is a way to handle this in terms of dealing with event specialists. Just write a computer program that picks the top team of 6 based on 3-up system, using the scores that people get done. It’s pretty trivial really.
I do not agree with Dom it is not her place to decide what Kim should feel about the past. I think if Dominique was allowed to compete in 06 we wouldn’t be hearing any of this right now. I just think its pretty shady to bring this up right before the Olympics games. I think someone is missing the glory of being in the spotlight.
The problem is, people are starting to interview ALL the ex-gymnasts right around the Olympics. I don’t think Dom sounds bitter; I think she honestly believes there is a better way to produce top gymnasts.
I also think Kim is kissing ass because she wants her athletes to be favored in the Karolyi system.
They interviewd Dominique Dawes about Moceanu’s claim and she denied any wrong doing. Dawes was part of the 2000 selection with Bela. Every gymnast and exgymnast who isn’t agreeing with Moceanu in the press is being called a coward by the fans. I do agree their should be a better training system that is easier on the gymnasts body, but I think if the current system is really that bad, other coaches and former gymnasts would be stepping up with moceanu and we are just not seeing that. All I’m seeing is the fans supporting her and the fans don’t exactly KNOW what happens behind the scenes.
Dom states that the correct team was picked, yet if it were at Trials, Bridget would never be on that team! She might not have even made alternate.
People think that the camps are responsible for the fractures on Shayla and Mattie. How can this be? They had stress fractures coming from overuse of their bones. They might not be getting enough calcium either. How are the Karolyis to blame for this, the gymnasts see the Karolyis a few times a year – give some responsibility to the athlete, their parents and their “wonderful” coaches *cough Jeff Wood, cough*
I do agree with Dominique Moceanu on some points, but I think there are other important things to consider as well.
1. The training camp system is NOT like Bela and Marta’s personal coaching system. The individual coaches of the gymnasts are responsible for day to day training of the gymnasts when they are home in Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, etc. – how many hours they train, their approach towards whether they should compete and train on an injury, how they approach the weight issue, etc. Marta Karolyi is not in the gym with all of the gymnasts and coaches everyday. I am also sure she would not treat the gymnasts at the training camp the way she did her personal gymnasts. That was private when she was a personal coach – at the camps, she has the eyes of the coaches on her as well at USAG people. The coaches had a problem with the way Bela ran things, they protested, and he was out. They have said things are much better now.
2. I do think some of Bela and Marta’s personal coaching training tactics were mean and negative. I do believe gymnasts can prosper under more positive environments. I think coaches can go about weight gain and getting a gymnast to push through injuries in a different way.
3. I do believe the team selection process could be different. I don’t feel the final selection camp after Trials is needed. I think Nationals and Trials can be held later if the issue is to pick the team as late as possible (though I don’t always think that’s the best thing). I think after Nationals and Trials they can name the team, or a training squad of the nine gymnasts they’d want to use, then decide from there who will compete and who will be alternates when they reach the competition. Something like this was kind of done in 2007. Sam and Bridget did not know if they were going to be competing or be the alternate until after training at Worlds.
4. I do believe sometimes gymnasts need a little time off to rest injuries. However, in some instances, I think you have to make a decision of whether or not to go for it, when a major competition such as the Olympics is on the line. If it’s not absolutely a major risk to train on an injury when the Olympics are a month away, you either give it a go or give up the Olympics. You don’t have to do it if you don’t feel up to it. It’s up to the parents of the underaged gymnasts ultimately to make the final decision, but the coach and doctor should be able to dertermine what’s good or bad for the gymnast to do as well. This happens in other sports as well.
5. I think what Dawes said was about the selection process. I think there was a misunderstanding or maybe a mixup somehow with how the article showed her points about Bela Karolyi. I think she was saying that it was helpful for the Karolyis to help run the system because of their experience. And I think Moceanu is coming more from the point of having been personally coached by them, which was more brutal and harsh. And the personal coaching by them and the camp system is different.
Dominique is absolutely correct. The only changes that USAG has made over the years has been for the acquirement of more and more power over the athletes, whom they care little for and and are discarded when their value as a commodity cash cow decreases. Hamm in the 2004 Olympics was a perfect example. USAG was more interested in saving political face than stand up for one of their own. As for the Karolys, their time was over long ago. Their conventions and methods are still Romanian, freedom of speech a concept they obviously do not care for, because if they did, the athletes would have been given far more say than in the system at present. USAG really hasn’t the right to call itself “USA”G while they still adopt the Karoly system.
First I have to say that I do have alot of respect for the Karyoli’s and even the selection process to some degree. But it seems to me that have to impress one person, rather then several, and the team not beling selected at the actual “Trails”, that’s devestating to me. I also don’t really like hearing “Marta’s standards”. I do agree with the camps, but why only have to please one person, only her opioion matters and no one elses. There probably should be a bigger governering rule and even different types of people repressting the athletes.
Thanks Dominique for speaking out! I’m not against the selection process as a whole, but it could be differently and better.
I’m glad that the team wasn’t selected on live tv like it was in previous years. The feelings of rejection, depression, and humiliation that can sometimes come along with being left off of the team DON’T need to be broadcast in prime time by NBC at trials. They just don’t.
The selection was live 4 years ago, and people criticized that. Many people used Alicia Sacramone’s bad moment as good reason. I’d have to agree. I thought it was bad enough that they even showed backstage footage of gymnasts being told who would and wouldn’t be allowed to walk out for the training squad announcement was bad enough.
It’s better that the team was chosen now instead of at trials. Bridget Sloan would have had NO chance a month ago. Now, she’s an Olympian. Mattie Larson looked like a potential alternate to a lot of people last month. Now, she has an injury. Jana Bieger was the most consistent gymnast we had a month ago…but when the pressure was at its highest at camp, she wasn’t.
Should the meets be so close together? I don’t know enough about the training process to know what’s right and wrong. However, having as many looks at the gymnasts as possible for selecting the team makes plenty of sense to me. It’s simple mathematics. The more sample points you have, the better chance you have of getting accurate results out of your tests….
Do the Karolyis perhaps have too much power? Probably. But I doubt for a second that Valeri Liukin or Andy Memmel would hesitate to speak up for their children if they felt they were treated poorly while at camp. Rumor has it that Andrea Bieger certainly has spoken up on behalf of Jana with respect to her potentially being “scored unfairly” before…so why wouldn’t other parent-coaches do the same? And for that matter, with the close relationship that Shawn has with Chow, I doubt he’d stand by and let anything happen to HER either. Same for Brestyan with Alicia, etc., etc., etc.
“Rumor has it that Andrea Bieger certainly has spoken up on behalf of Jana with respect to her potentially being “scored unfairly” before…so why wouldn’t other parent-coaches do the same? And for that matter, with the close relationship that Shawn has with Chow, I doubt he’d stand by and let anything happen to HER either. Same for Brestyan with Alicia, etc., etc., etc.”
Jana was left off the team, who knows, maybe because her mother spoke up. Shawn, Alicia, and Chelsie have proven themselves. The Karolyis would love to have them on the team. So if it’s true that the better athletes are treated well, there is nothing for them to complain about.
I agree with TuesdayPillow about Kim wanting to be on the Karolyis’ good side. No coach would want want to jeopardize her athletes’ chances, especially if they know their athletes aren’t as good as the Shawns and the Nastias.
While I agree with Dominique and others who believe the Olympic Trials should be the official competition for choosing the team, I wonder if Carly Patterson would have made it to the Olympics that way. I don’t know her scores but I know she fell on both days of the trials, and even at Nationals…
Yep! I totally agree. I think its crap that the karolyis have so much power..who are they to decide who goes?
And its disgusting that there is no medical staff at the camp. Dominique, you are amazing!
Thanks for this newsletter, I believe the Karolys have way tood much power also . Who and where the Heck does ms. Koroly think she is or lives.
I have the upmost respect for you as not only a gymnast but as an individual. I remember watching you and following you through the years. I am not s gymnast but my daughter, 8 yrs is. She just completed her first year competing in Level 4. She took home the state championship her her age/level. I love the way her gym does things. I don’t look at your comments as putting others down. I look at it as standing up for what is right. It may not be the popular way or vote. But you show more character and I have mroe respect for that. I know I am a nobody in the world of gymnastics or to you. I just wanted you to know it goes appreciated and you are respected by so many. One more thing. I am from Ohio… Ohio State is my fav. And good luck to your sister with her volleyball. My husband coaches HS volleyball and we own a non-profit JO’s club for boys. We stress family and core values. Nobody is turned away no matter the ability or financial stresses. We try to get donations to support scholarships for players in need of a healthy, safe and family oriented atmosphere. We are in our 4th year. Anyway, good luck to you and your family.
Honestly, everyone can have their opinion. Not everyone will agree with what Dominique says so why try to argue with her? The only point is to leave your opinion and then move on. We’re trying to add to this interview not take away from it. Let her be her.
I totally agree with your statements about the selection process, Dominique. Way to go! And thanks for speaking up.
I have known Dominique personally for years. I knew her when she was with Bela as agymnast and I have letter after letter of the abuse whe went through. I talked to her all the time. I was also one who would sneak her candya nd drive her to DQ. She is one of the smartest young ladies I have ever met. The gymnastics world won’t speak up until they are removed because they don’t want their gymnasts to suffer. Remove them and you will hear all the horror stories that I personally know of. Way to Dominique!!!!
Aha — I don’t think Jana was left off the team because her mom spoke up. She was left off because the team didn’t need her on any of the events — she didn’t have one great event that would come in handy in team finals. They could (and did) use Bridget on vault. And her form is really bad.
Also, Carly Patterson would have made the team in 2004 even with the old — top 6 go kind of system. She was third at Olympic Trials and tied for first at Nationals.
Regardless, it’s time for the Karolyis to retire. We don’t need to abuse gymnasts to get the best out of them.
During the interview with Bryant Gumble, Dominique commented about her own training/coaching philosophy (specifically, that she thought gymnasts could do better by training fewer hours and allowing time to heal between injuries). Bryant Gumble made a snide remark about how she has no athletes to show for this process, indicating that the Karoyli’s method is the proven one. Well, there seems to be quite a bit of proof in Dominique’s method in Shawn Johnson. Shawn trains only 20 hours per week, far less than what most gymnasts do. It’s no surprise that of the 2008 Olympic gymnasts, she was the ONLY one to have not suffered any major injuries during her career. I think Dominique is definitely on to something with her coaching philosophy and I hope she gets back into the gym as a coach, because she has a lot to offer. What the Karolyi’s have done is created Olympic gymnasts at a huge cost to their self-esteem and physical well-being.
I think Bela was way out of his mind to keep food away from the young lady gymnasts, and to call Dominique Moceanu “fat” when she weighed a mere 70 lbs. It is a good thing she was smart enough not to take this to heart; otherwise, she could have developed anorexia nervosa and had her life snuffed out at a tender age like Christy Heinrich back in the late 80s. It seems to me that Dominique was the tiniest among the Magnificent Seven. In fact, I don’t think another ten to fifteen more pounds on her would have negatively impacted her performance as a gymnast; she has demonstrated great skills and nobody can take that away from her. Mary Lou Retton and Carly Patterson seemed to be significantly larger in physique than Dominique Moceanu, yet they seemed to handle themselves very well in their sport, too.
Thank You, Dominique for being so honest. It takes a lot of strength and courage to come forward and stand for the truth. Many of us fans have seen over the years how unfair the Karolyi system is.