You may have heard by now that 1996 Olympian Dominique Moceanu was on a HBO show to vent about the Karolyis and their system. The usual: abusive, painful, etc., etc.
Here’s Part 1:
Now I have some sympathy for Jennifer Sey–although gymnastics devotees accuse her of being a nutcase (and she may very well be), she had to deal with the Mrs., and I also never got the impression that she was as pompous as Dominique Moceanu is.
Not surprisingly, I have only a little sympathy for Dominique. While I do think her accusations are valid, I wish someone else would’ve made them. Perhaps I would take her seriously if she:
- hadn’t divorced her parents in such Hollywood fashion
- hadn’t attempted her half-assed comeback in 2006 and tried to petition her way into 2006 Nationals when she performed badly at US Classics (and not having competed for a long time before then). Not to mention that she blamed Martha K. and co. for not approving her petition, instead of her own ill-preparedness. When you consider that people like A-Sac (who Domi loves and admires) had to compete their way on, what made Domi think she was so special? Besides, in spewing this crap, Domi is taking away from Alicia’s accomplishment in finally making the Olympic team. Domi throws a fit and says ”Martha sux n I wuz robbed!!11!!!”
Dominique’s remarks about Trials, while I would agree with her, aren’t any more significant because she made them. Dominique didn’t have to go through Olympic Trials in 1996. She was on the team by petition, unlike, say, Amy Chow, who bashed her head against a balance beam and then got up to finish the routine just to hold onto her chance to get to Atlanta. While I won’t ever know what Dominique would have done back then, I’m sure that a 2006 Domi probably would have stopped and tried to–you guessed it–petition her way on.
Domi had to “divorce” her parents as you call it because her dad was abusive and stole the money she made from the olympics. I’d be bitter if my father stole my money
I adored Dominique when I was younger, maybe even idolized her, but now…
It’s just so funny that she didn’t have any of this to say when she first left the sport. While she was performing, she didn’t have those same mistakes that proved her rattled nerves, and she must have been the best actress of all time with that smile. It didn’t come across as a “stage” smile, but now I guess we’re supposed to believe that it was, in fact, fake because she just wanted to get it over with…
Seems to me like she’s still bitter about her failed comeback, which really bugs me. Some of what was reported to have happened with that DID seem like she was misled in a way, but you know what? The way that she’s acting now makes me have NO sympathy whatsoever for her anymore. And that sucks.
It’s also pretty laughable that they showed Shawn Johnson as the “smiles” and Nastia Liukin training with the other girls when they were talking about “but behind the scenes” blah blah blah. I suppose we’re supposed to take from that that Shawn’s smile is as fake, and she’s really being overworked and overstressed now, too. And I guess we’re supposed to see Nastia as the poster child for overworked, overstressed, and too thin….too bad not everyone has a horrible experience like Dominique supposedly did.
I doubt we’ll hear whining and drama from either Shawn or Nastia when their 15 minutes has ended…
Okay, here’s my 2 cents. I hope you don’t mind long comments, haha!
Actually, the basic gripes that Dominique had about the elite program are not all that controversial. Dwight Normile’s latest editorial for International Gymnast says pretty much the same thing. I think we can all agree that we do not want our athletes over-trained, broken and burned out by the time they reach the Olympic year (yes, Jana and Shayla, I’m looking at you).
But what bothered me about the Real Sports segment is that they basically resorted to over-sensationalizing the drama in order to leverage the Olympic Games media blitz by generating some attention and controversy. Other than interviewing Dominique and Sey, there was no other research done for the segment. No statistics. No apples-to-apples comparison to other kids sports. No insider information from the people who actually manage the gymnastics programs. We’re all supposed to just react in horror to Dominique and Sey’s personal stories and collectively condemn the sport. And the Karolyis. The tone of the segment plays right up to the critics of gymnastics who always seem to appear every 4 years just in time put their 2 cents in ahead of the Games before they forget about gymnastics all together for another 4 years.
My sympathy goes to Chellsie who, for all purposes, was portrayed as an idiot, a little girl who has no idea she’s being abused and victimized, and will come to her senses when she gets older– even though she is *not* a little girl, but actually a homeowner at the age of 20. I find it annoying that the reporter and Sey wondered how Chellsie will feel in 10 years. Why didn’t they ask Shannon, Dawes, Amanda, Jaycie or Amy how they felt? It’s been well over 10 years for them. After all, Dominique wasn’t the only champion in Atlanta.
The sad thing is that I do think the basic gripes are valid points and could be improved at the elite level. But for most people, all they’re going to remember is that Sey didn’t menstruate until she was in her 20s and that it’s more important for 14 year olds to be able to eat Twizzlers and brownies than it is for them to eat healthy and learn the value of sport.
Oh, one other thing if I may… I totally forgot to mention that Kerri was also in Atlanta which is ironic because she is the one who sacrificed her ankle for the sake of Olympic gold. It’s also worth mentioning that she trained with Dominique with the Karolyis during that Olympic cycle. From everything I’ve read about her, she’s been enormously successful in her life showing no scars from her gymnastics childhood. But of course, no mention of her in this documentary either.
dominique i think does not have her head straight. she is looking for some publicity it seems. Domi dont u realize success is 99% preparation. The other 1 % is luck. Marta Karoli and Bela Karoliy worked you so hard so that u could be the best and you got that chance. You sound sour. Your parents took you to the best coaches and the result was there: world medalist and olympic champion.. You should be thanking Martha and Bela.
Just admit it. You didnt get your way in 2006. But hey if you look at youtube and ask any world class judge, of your routine you did in 2006, they would say your routines and body was not world class material So the committee did the right thing. You sound like a spoiled brat who didnt get their way.
And so what if you had to weight in at the camps. You cant be a blimp and tumble could you? So what if you had to do 16 bar routines in a row? Repitions made you really good right.. Your UB in the Olympic team competition was awesome. Marta must have had you do that over and over! So complaining. You got what most elite gymnast dont have. That is an Olympic gold medal. Remeber nothing is easy and Im sure every and I mean every Olympic gold medalist had to endure pain to get that big gain.
dominique also just some advice. what you say today can have an impact in the future. Noone like to hear sour grapes.
Flip Cub, I don’t mind long comments at all.
I agree with you most heartily.
(And I think Chellsie is a million times better than Jen Sey or Domi on the basis of her mental toughness.)
I know Dominique has every right to share her statements, but she needs to STFU. IN WHAT SPORT OR ASPECT OF LIFE IS THERE NOT A DARK SIDE? I don’t dispute her opinions one bit, but seriously, NOW she wants to come out w/this crap? Dominique, please, I thought you were better than this. Please STFU
It angers me to hear what Domi has to say.. It does sound like she is just “sore” because her comeback in 2006 failed. At the time, I could not figure out why she expected to get her petition granted, I mean, Hello! All the other girls had to perform and prove that they could go to Nats, why should you get a “free ride” just b/c you were once an olympic champ? Her routines were not up to par, so therefore No Go! Makes sense to me.
Her comments about not being allowed to eat sweets/candy, um, ya.. I used to compete in figure skating, not at an elite level, but still, and we were told to watch what we ate too. Lord, my coach freaked cause we went to McD’s! So imagine at the elite level! And yes, I was and still am pretty slim, so McD’s would not kill me , but I understand the “freaking out” by my coach.
I wonder how Chellsie deals with just eating fruit for dinner though.. I mean, there are healthier ways to eat sensibly at this level… And yes, this did make her sound like an idiot, agreed.
Kerri not only trained with the Karolyi’s once, but TWICE! She CHOSE to go back after gym hopping a few times. She was actually treated worse with Steve Nunno, suffering worse injuries while training with him than with Karolyi (ankle thing aside).
All I am saying is that Moceanu sounds like she is whining now.. “poor me, I failed b/c of Marta & Bella”…
You have to wonder why Dominique, having trained under the Karolyi’s and knowing she would have to deal with them again and the system she so hates, would willingly choose to subject herself to that by attempting the comeback in 2006, assuming abuse did occur.
Her story is full of holes and does sound like sour grapes.
Dominique may be a mother but she is still just a whingey disgruntled child at heart. These comments (including the nasty set thrown at Kim Zmeskal) are all about her failed attempt to get her face on television again at the 2006 National Championships. She has and always be gymnastics greatest attention seeker.
It strikes me Dominique felt that she more talent and was deserving of more accolades than she actually achieved. Hear a patter emerging here, Dominique Moceanu, Betty Okino, Jennifer Sey. All athletes, who while probably as successful as they ever deserved to be, never took the next step towards the greatness they clearly felt entitled to and hence the bash fest towards former coaches.
This was a low blow by Dominique and not a terribly intelligent one. Noone is buying it Dominique. Get over 2006 already, accept you simply weren’t good enough and concentrate on raising your daughter.
Moceanu has every right to say what she said. I don’t agree with her at all. I personally feel she is all about herself and wants as much fame as possible for as little work as possible. (that is why she isn’t invited on the new tour but gymnasts like Miller are being talked out of retirement to perform) but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to give her opinion. Even if she is just plain bitter she didn’t get a free ride to Nationals 2 years ago.
Great blog again difficulty plus execution.
Way, way, waaaay late in responding to this post, but I’m glad I finally watched the whole episode.
I found the very end segment, the discussion the two men to be the most reasonable view of the accusations. I say that because they have some distance from the sport and they offer an everyman’s perspective, so to speak.
Although, I had no problem with – in fact, I didn’t even notice – the young gymnasts wearing lipstick, which bothered Gumbel. It’s par for the course with figure skating and gymnastics. No harm in that.
In my very humble opinion, there has to be communication between the parents, coaches, athletes, and – at the highest levels – the USFSA (I forget the acronym for it’s gymnastics equivalent.) In the vast majority of cases, these parties DO work together – quite well, no less – and the results are great for everyone involved – not to mention for the betterment of the sport in general.
From the get-go Dominique was missing the critical element of parents who were parents first. I don’t doubt that much psychological damage was done because – as the the piece stated – her parents idolized the Karyolis. That’s a very unique dynamic that is not at work in most families. I hope she is able to find peace within herself and in her world.
I won’t comment on Sey because I don’t know her story well enough (only from “LGIPB,” which I read many years ago… don’t get me going on my issues with that book.)
But I will say this, I think any competitive athlete in any sport has a distorted view of how much the sport is tied to their identity/life/world – not a bad thing, it’s just what happens when you devote a significant amount of your time/energy/thoughts to training. Most of us are lucky enough to learn from our experiences and look back with love at those years when we could love something so pure as sport. There is a gratitude for the experiences and opportunities. Yes, it is natural to go though a period of mourning of sorts when -for whatever reason- our time is up and our sport cannot be our life any longer. For each of us there is a time to move on from our past hurts, our past victories, in a sense, our past lives. The important part is to move on. And remember that you are not the sport, the sport is greater than you. So, be grateful to have been a part of the sport and always, always respect it.