Synopses & Reviews
In this searing and riveting andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/Iandgt; bestseller, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu reveals the dark underbelly of Olympic gymnastics, the true price of successand#8230;and the shocking secret about her past and her family that she only learned years later.andlt;brandgt;andlt;brandgt;At fourteen years old, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 US Womenand#8217;s Olympic Gymnastics team, the first and only American womenand#8217;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.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Off Balance andlt;/Iandgt;vividly delineates each of the dominating characters who contributed to Moceanuand#8217;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. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;But medals, murder plots, drugs, and daring escapes aside (all of which figure into Moceanuand#8217;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 sisterand#8212;born with a physical disability and given away at birthand#8212;who has nonetheless followed in Moceanuand#8217;s footsteps in an astonishing way. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;A multilayered memoir that transcends the world of sports, andlt;Iandgt;Off Balance andlt;/Iandgt;will touch anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better life.
Review
“A rousing, intimate memoir… relentlessly candid.” < -="" i="" -=""> - Vogue.com - < -="" -="">
Synopsis
AT FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 U.S. Womens Olympic Gymnastics team, the first and only American womens 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 Moceanus 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 Moceanus 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 Moceanus 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.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Dominique Moceanuandlt;/bandgt; is the youngest American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal and the youngest to win the all-around title at the US Senior Nationals. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio. Visit Dominique-Moceanu.com.