"We first talked about it, just chatting, at Kim (Zmeskal's) wedding [in October]," Tracy told IG. "[Then] Dominique e-mailed me and asked me some questions like, 'How do I motivate my gymnasts?' I sent her some tips and books and about a week ago she called and asked if I'd take her."
Recent surgery and a much-publicized break with her family (since reconciled) has kept Moceanu in the headlines but out of the gym. (Her last competition was the 1998 U.S. National Championships, where she finished third.) A few months ago Moceanu suffered another blow when her well-loved coach, Luminita Miscenko, left Colorado to pursue other opportunities. Despite the long absence from competition Tracy insists that Moceanu may have been down but she was never out. "This isn't a comeback," she said. "She's already 'comeback.' This is just her deciding to get serious. ... We're just going to start over, leave all that baggage behind. She knows she has to work at it, that she's a little out of shape or whatever, but she's got a strong head and that's what counts."
Moceanu, who is driving from Colorado to Ohio with the help of her mother, Camellia, plans to live with the parents of former Cincinnati gymnasts Karin and Kristie Lichey. "I think this will be great for [Dominique] because these are parents that know how to raise gymnasts. It's a gymnastics family." (Both of the Lichey sisters had successful NCAA careers at Georgia. Karin, the eldest sibling, graduated and is getting married this week and Kristie still competes for the Georgia Gymdawgs.)
Moceanu is expected to arrive in Ohio January 2 and Tracy's plan for her newest pupil is simple. "We're going to highlight those things that are her strengths -- the fact that she's an Olympic champion and that she knows how to do this -- not the things that don't help her, obviously (laughs). .. I don't think people are going to hold things in the past against her. She's got as a much a chance as anyone else -- and more than some, if she works hard -- to make that [2000 Olympic] team."
