Regaining Balance: Unexpected Blessings: Dominique Moceanu at TEDxAkron

Largely considered one of the greatest and most accomplished gymnasts of the modern era, Dominique Moceanu, born in 1981, is the youngest American gymnast, male or female, to win an Olympic gold medal (she did it at age 14), and the youngest to win a Senior National All-Around Title (at age 13!). She was also the youngest gymnast to compete at the World Championships, to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team, and the youngest athlete ever featured on a Wheaties box!

[@missmoxie9188]

That is amazing! Dominique is one of the most accomplished athletes of our day and her sister is the Illinois state champion in power tumbling. I’ve seen videos of Jennifer in her aerialist and gymnastics work and she is fantastic

[@fredrika27]

@I. Wynn Wynn Talk about giving aaway the "Golden child"! It's kinda like Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery!!! You never know how things are going to turn out!!!😇

[@kday6085]

@@fredrika27 I saw that many people judge Dominique's parents very harshly, like no one ever has given their child for adoption. No one asked them why, no one asked them how they felt, and what it meant that they had no money, no insurance and so on. No one acknowledged how many sacrifices they did for Dominique, because let's face it: gymnastics and private schools cost a lot. Well, all these say a lot about them.

[@guittadabe5214]

What awesome sisters, and what a miraculous story! God bless them and give them and their families joy.

[@jmae2467]

Unbelievable story! Dominique Moceanu was my childhood hero too!

[@randomnessofme5459]

Dominique and Jen you are definitiely sisters, you can see it on first look. I am currently reading Dominique's book "Off Balance A Memoir" and enjoying it

[@kathryn0angle]

Moceanu !!!!!

[@asottilare4233]

What a personality Jenn has! I would love to hang out with that girl!

[@marklanfier8287]

That’s awesome! It is so funny that your childhood idol was actually your sister. My grandpa was adopted & I’m not sure if he ever met his biological family? Dominique was my first love at 11 years old. She was 14. So I always though “maybe if I can be a pro football player or baseball player it will happen. Lol! Broke my heart to see her have to quit because of injury. Thank you ladies for sharing this story.

[@craftyjoy9]

What a cool story! 💖🙋🏼💖

[@kday6085]

Finally, if they are happy together and they did reconciled with their parents, is very good.

[@frawldog]

I had a huge crush on her 25 years ago

[@55Porter]

Dominique or Jen?

[@amrose4214]

So her uncle contacted the parents but there parents did not deny it but Dad like we have nointentions of meeting her.

[@CCRoxtar]

Jen got the better end of the deal than did Dominique & Christina. The girl who was given away grew up in a loving, stable home where she was taught never to say "can't." The 2 girls who were kept, meanwhile, grew up in an abusive home. Athletic ability is dealt by nature, but nurture shapes a person's worldview.

[@fredrika27]

What I don't understand in this whole story, despite their age differences, why didn't Dominique notice that her mother was pregnant! I remember at age seven that my mum was pregnant! It just blows my mind! And I would love to hear from the youngest sister and how she felt about finding out about her older sister! Just all around beautiful story!

[@adaliciacastillo7138]

fredrika27 Some Women don’t really show when pregnant. I’ve had a couple of friends that just looked like the gained some weight🤷🏻‍♀️

[@missmoxie9188]

She asks herself the same question

[@hermionepink96]

Probably some of it had to be that she wasn't home much since she trained so many hours a day. Idk much about her, but maybe her Mom didn't live with her at the time too!

[@jukodebu]

because she didn't have legs half a fetus wouldn't show much

[@sallydaniel1023]

Dominique has said they didn't talk about such things in her family. I can understand that...some families insist on sweeping such secrets under the rug

[@amrose4214]

Maybe the docs told the parents that she need medical care rest of life but not the case other then the WC and prosthetics she got around well with adopted loving family. I think it was more the Dad who was the abusive selfish one who did not want a kid who looked different in his perfect gymnastic family so he abandoned her up for adoption. But she got the best life her adoptive family loved on her. Her dad well he died before meeting her again or he never had any intention too. It like God punished him by losing his site to eye cancer and he died, cause i bet the mom would never had been allowed to meet with her why dad still alive.