Moceanu Hopes To Regain Her Balance Gymnast Works Through Coaching Changes After Tumbling From Glory Of The Olympics

Since the Olympics, Dominique Moceanu has bounced from coach to coach to coach.

It’s been a turbulent time for the 1995 national gymnastics champion and the youngest and tiniest member of the “Magnificent Seven” - the U.S. women’s team that won gold in Atlanta.

But it’s also been a time for growth.

The dark-haired pixie, who turned 16 Sept. 30, is no longer a pocket-sized 4-foot-6, 72-pounder, having added a few inches and a few pounds.

She wears her eye makeup a little heavier and her ponytail a little longer. Her smile comes easier and she seems more relaxed after two years of public adoration.

As she adjusts to all those changes, she’s also facing a switch to new surroundings.

For the five years leading up to the 1996 Summer Games, Moceanu trained in the Houston gym of Bela Karolyi, the famed coach of Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug. After Atlanta, Karolyi sold his gym and said he was retiring from elite coaching.

So Moceanu’s dad, a used-car salesman, poured more than $4 million into a new, 70,000 square-foot gym. He might as well have built a revolving door for all the coaches who have come and gone from his daughter’s life.

After Karolyi retired, a move some doubt is permanent, Moceanu trained under a former Russian champion until February and then under a former coach of the Israeli team until May. The relationships broke off because neither would move to Houston, and Moceanu’s father already had bought the land for the new gym.

In June, Moceanu started working with Liviu Mazilu, a Romanian immigrant like her parents and Karolyi. Because Mazilu is still learning English, he often talks to Moceanu in Romanian.

“It’s been a little bit hectic but … Liviu is pretty good and we get along well together,” Moceanu said before a recent workout.

She said her training is “a lot more independent” under Mazilu than it was under Karolyi, who has a reputation for being very strict.

All of the changes may have contributed to her ninth-place finish in August at the national championships, the same competition that vaulted her to fame two years ago when she became the youngest all-around champion.

Despite finishing so low, Moceanu still made the U.S. team that went to the world championships - but only because a new age rule disqualified three girls who finished ahead of her. Moceanu came in 14th, second among the Americans.

Moceanu, who toured last fall and winter with her Olympics teammates, says her goal is simply to get back in shape and do well next year.

“It’s still fun when I go out there and compete, that’s the best part” she said. “Coming in the gym is hard sometimes because you want to be with your friends and you want to have some time off and enjoy it.

“But I know that so much hard work has paid off for me - why not continue doing it.”