Dominique's Biography

1981: Dominique "Helena" Moceanu is born on September 30 in Hollywood, California
When Dominique was just 6 months old, her father had her hold onto a clothes line to test her strength. Dominique held on until it broke! This was an early sign to show her strength in becoming a gymnast.
1983: Dominique and her family relocate to Highland Park, Illinois, near Chicago. Later, between the ages of 3 and 4, her parents enroll her in a local gymnastics club
1985: Her father, Dimitry, contacts Bela Karoli at his gym in Houston and inquires about putting Dominique in his classes, but Bela tells him to wait until age 9 or 10.
1987: Dominique moves to Tampa, Florida and enrolls at LaFleur's Gymnastics where she continues to train
1989: On August 24, Dominique's sister, Christina, is born Click Here to see a picture of Christina!!
1991: After Dominique turns 10, she moves to Houston. She tells her father that she wishes to train at Karolyi's while watching a gymnastics program. Her father replies "Okay. We will go!" and on December 18, she arrives for her first session.
1992: Only seven months after beginning her training at Karolyi's, she qualifies for the Junior National team and medals at the 1992 Junior Nationals-the youngest junior qualifier to ever do so (age 10).
1993: Dominique compete's in the Junior National Championships, but does not medal. She finishes 7th all-around.
1994: Dominique win's the Junior National Championships which is her first all-around title
1995: Dominique becomes the youngest in U.S. history to win the Senior National Championships and is the only gymnast who has went from a junior title to a senior title in just one year!!
At the World Championships in Sabae, Japan, Dominique wins a silver medal on the balance beam and gets fifth all-around, which was the best finish for an American
1996: At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Dominique does not win any individual medals, but she does help her teamates to the first ever, women's gymnastics team gold medal in U.S. history!!!
1998: After a rough year in 1997, Dominique comes back by winning the 1998 Goodwill Games All-Around Gold!

Other Quick Facts
Goal: To go to the 2000 Olympics, to study sports medicine
Height: 5FT 0"
Weight: 90 pounds
Club: Moceanu Gymnastics, Inc.
Coach: Luminita Miscenco
School: Northland Christian School
Year in School: 11th (Fall, '97)
Years on National Team: 6 (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98)
Hobbies: In-line skating, reading, swimming, listening to music
Family: Dimitry (father), Camelia (mother), and Christina (sister, age 7)
Pets: Mitzy, her cat
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Shoe Size: 5 1/2 (Dominique's shoe size was the smallest at at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games (along with Kerri Strug)
Lucky Number: 7

*Information provided by "Dominique Moceanu - An American Champion"


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