Off Balance

I just finished a new book yesterday.  I'm definitely not the biggest reader but I have found myself doing a lot more reading in the past few months.  It all started when I got a hold of the Hunger Games.  It sucked me in and I was finished with all 3 books in about 3 weeks... unheard of for me.  I started the Twilight series and I have been half way through the third book for the past year and a half.  Let's just say, I'm not a huge vampire fan and I didn't relate to the main character at all.  Back to my point.. I just got a new book from my MIL on my birthday called OFF BALANCE, A memoir about Dominique Moceanu.

I had the privelege to know Dominique when I was a gymnast at Karolyi's Gymnastics from 1994 to 1995.  I was in the group that was allowed to work out in the 3rd gym for bars with Alexander.  Otherwise, the 3rd gym was off limits to anyone other than Dominique, Kim Zmeskal, Svetlana Boginskaya, and Jennie Thompson.  I was so fortunate to be in the presence of these elite gymnasts and to be coached by Jackie and Alexander.

I just wanted to recommend this book.  Dominique shares all of the details and unsettling delimas she faced as a child and then into adulthood.  She had an extremely hard childhood that was masked by the limelight of the media and the Olympics.  I won't go in to details, but there are some very surprising things that happen in her life that were so negative.  I'm so happy for her now and the happiness she has found with her husband, 2 children, and long lost sister... yes sister that she did not learn of until her 20's. 

Go get this book!

At the end of the book, Dominique begins to talk more about USA Gymnastics and the political power that Marta Karolyi controls.  I was watching Olympic trials this weekend for track and field as well as diving and realized that the way gymnastics chooses its team for the Olympics is very very different.  For other sports, the top spots at the trials go on to the Olympics... very straight forward, simple, and objective.  However, in the sport of gymnastics, only the first place spot at the Olympic trials is guarenteed a spot on the 5-person team for the Olympics.  The other four spots are chosen by the Olympic committee...with Marta being the main voice.  So, someone placing 2nd place at the Olympic trials may not even make it to the Olympics.  I find this sooo unfair and un-American.  Those girls train so hard and for so many hours, that I don't believe it is right to take that away from someone.  Whether Marta has control or not, I still don't think it is fair that the system has come to this.  In the past, this is not the way it was done.  There were girls petitioned to the Olympics (Dominique and Shannon Miller in 1996), but they were unable to compete in the trials due to injuries.  They had proven their spots by placing high in the US championships.  I just hope that at this Olympic Trials, the top 5 girls are awarded the opportunity to compete in London... however, I doubt that it turns out that way.

The Olympic trials are this Sunday on NBC at 8:00 PM (not sure if its Central or Eastern time).  Take a look and enjoy some unbelievable gymnastics.  Every year I am amazed by the advancement of the sport and the difficulty these girls perform with such precision.  I love watching it!  I will be glued to the tv for every routine and hopefully there will be a fair and unbiased result.