Off Balance
A Memoir
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4.5 • 370 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
In this searing and riveting New York Times bestseller, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu reveals the dark underbelly of Olympic gymnastics, the true price of success…and the shocking secret about her past and her family that she only learned years later.
At fourteen years old, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team, the first and only American women’s team to take gold at the Olympics. Her pixyish appearance and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. But behind the fame, the flawless floor routines, and the million-dollar smile, her life was a series of challenges and hardships.
Off Balance vividly delineates each of the dominating characters who contributed to Moceanu’s rise to the top, from her stubborn father and long-suffering mother to her mercurial coach, Bela Karolyi. Here, Moceanu finally shares the haunting stories of competition, her years of hiding injuries and pain out of fear of retribution from her coaches, and how she hit rock bottom after a public battle with her parents.
But medals, murder plots, drugs, and daring escapes aside (all of which figure into Moceanu’s incredible journey), the most unique aspect of her life is the family secret that Moceanu discovers, opening a new and unexpected chapter in her adult life. A mysterious letter from a stranger reveals that she has a second sister—born with a physical disability and given away at birth—who has nonetheless followed in Moceanu’s footsteps in an astonishing way.
A multilayered memoir that transcends the world of sports, Off Balance will touch anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better life.
Customer Reviews
See AllGreat story
This was a very good story, it seemed honest and sincere. I have two children in sports and one in college sports and one still in high school sports so I know the hard work it takes to be successful but what she endured and how she persevered it was and continues to be an amazing story with a cherry on top that she has another sister! The two coaches are dispicable and I hope this opens the eyes of USA gymnastics. However , they are such awful human beings they will probably feed on the fact that most Americans will despise them except for the American gymnastic community they have to submit to them, what choice do they have. Congrats on a beautiful life you have made for yourself, you more than deserve it! A great story you won't be disappointed.
Amazing
Amazing story! And amazing courage to tell her story. I hope the Bela and Marta read it...we know what you have done, and the jig is up! I am appalled at their behavior both as coaches and and as human beings. For me they no longer represent US Gymnastics, they represent despicable human beings who own many apologies to many children and grown children.
USA gymnastics should be ashamed at where they have come in the 21st century. Time to wake up and fix the broken system.
I'm so glad Dominique had the courage to use her voice to help make the future better. It's so hard to be the voice of reason when dealing with a sick minded governing body. It's so hard to be the one to say ENOUGH! Yet, she did and she did it well. For me this is bigger and better than a gold medal.
Thank you, Dominique. I hope you are able to continue to work on changing the system. We need you for all of our daughters.
Eye opening and heartwarming
What a heart warming and eye opening experience from my favorite gymnast of all time. Today more than ever does usag need to listen to its athletes. How about they start here....