1981:Dominique
"Helena" Moceanu is born on September 30 in Hollywood, California
When Dominique was
just 6 months old, her father had her hold onto a clothes line to test
her strength. Dominique held on until it broke! This was an early sign
to show her strength in becoming a gymnast.
1983:Dominique
and her family relocate to Highland Park, Illinois, near Chicago. Later,
between the ages of 3 and 4, her parents enroll her in a local gymnastics
club
1985:Her
father, Dimitry, contacts Bela Karoli at his gym in Houston and inquires
about putting Dominique in his classes, but Bela tells him to wait until
age 9 or 10.
1987:Dominique
moves to Tampa, Florida and enrolls at LaFleur's Gymnastics where she continues
to train
1989:On
August 24, Dominique's sister, Christina, is born Click Here to see a picture
of Christina!!
1991:After
Dominique turns 10, she moves to Houston. She tells her father that she
wishes to train at Karolyi's while watching a gymnastics program. Her father
replies "Okay. We will go!" and on December 18, she arrives for her first
session.
1992:Only
seven months after beginning her training at Karolyi's, she qualifies for
the Junior National team and medals at the 1992 Junior Nationals-the youngest
junior qualifier to ever do so (age 10).
1993:Dominique
compete's in the Junior National Championships, but does not medal. She
finishes 7th all-around.
1994:Dominique
win's the Junior National Championships which is her first all-around title.
1995:Dominique
becomes the youngest in U.S. history to win the Senior National Championships
and is the only gymnast who has went from a junior title to a senior title
in just one year!! At the World Championships in Sabae, Japan, Dominique
wins a silver medal on the balance beam and gets fifth all-around, which
was the best finish for an American.
1996:At
the 1996 Summer Olympics, Dominique does not win any individual medals,
b
ut she does help her
teamates to the first ever, women's gymnastics team gold medal in U.S.
history!!!