Friday, May 20, 2005
MOCEANU TO COMPETE AT U.S. CLASSIC (INTERNATIONAL GYMNAST)
Dominique Moceanu announced Friday that she will be competing at the upcoming U.S. Classic in a bid to qualify to the 2005 U.S. National Championships.
Now 23, Moceanu was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games. She competed at the 1997 World Championships, and won the all-around at the 1998 Goodwill Games. She retired from elite competition following a knee injury in 2000. She began working out again last fall for her part on the Rock N Roll Gymnastics Championships Tour.
"I've always been a very competitive and driven person," Moceanu said. "But I must admit that my visit to Athens for the 2004 Olympics, post-Olympic touring, and the devotion of my fans strongly influenced my decision to return to competition."
Moceanu is currently training at Gymnastics World in Broadview Heights, Ohio, where she is training with her longtime boyfriend, former Ohio State gymnast Mike Canales.
"I'd like to make it clear that my return to gymnastics is not about unfinished business!" said Moceanu. "I am much more focused on adding a new dimension to my gymnastics career, not simply living up to others' expectations."
Moceanu is also scheduled to perform an exhibition this Saturday evening at the IGHOF Championships, to be held at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
Dominique Moceanu announced Friday that she will be competing at the upcoming U.S. Classic in a bid to qualify to the 2005 U.S. National Championships.
Now 23, Moceanu was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games. She competed at the 1997 World Championships, and won the all-around at the 1998 Goodwill Games. She retired from elite competition following a knee injury in 2000. She began working out again last fall for her part on the Rock N Roll Gymnastics Championships Tour.
"I've always been a very competitive and driven person," Moceanu said. "But I must admit that my visit to Athens for the 2004 Olympics, post-Olympic touring, and the devotion of my fans strongly influenced my decision to return to competition."
Moceanu is currently training at Gymnastics World in Broadview Heights, Ohio, where she is training with her longtime boyfriend, former Ohio State gymnast Mike Canales.
"I'd like to make it clear that my return to gymnastics is not about unfinished business!" said Moceanu. "I am much more focused on adding a new dimension to my gymnastics career, not simply living up to others' expectations."
Moceanu is also scheduled to perform an exhibition this Saturday evening at the IGHOF Championships, to be held at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
