UNEDITED INTERVIEW

The trip to Jacksonville to participate in the 1996 Olympic team's 15-year celebration was an exciting weekend! It was lovely to visit with my teammates again. To view the unedited interview that appeared on the USA Gymnastics website and in the American Cup program, please read below:

Where do you live and what do you do for work now? Describe a typical day?
I moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 2002. I fell in love with Ohio, and I’ve been a proud Clevelander ever since!

My days revolve around my two-year old son and three-year old daughter. Parents know these ages are never a bore, because toddlers are like running blenders without tops! There’s no such thing as “typical day”, and that’s the beauty of it.

When I’m not being a mommy or wife, I run my business, Dominique Moceanu Professional Services, which is dedicated to speaking and gymnastics related events along with fitness seminars with my husband.

I’m also doing public speaking, working with charities like Wigs for Kids, and co-authoring a four part children’s book series that Disney*Hyperion is set to release in 2012. I’m trying to evolve!

Tell us about your family if you have a significant other and/or children?
Carmen is my 3-year old daughter, and she’s bold and athletic! She loves gymnastics, dancing, artwork, and The Backyardigans. She was born on Christmas Day, and there will never be a better gift!

Vincent’s my 2-year old son, and we call him “Charm”. He’s really social and affectionate. He adores his sister and loves Toy Story and being tickled.

We never really grasp the love of a parent until we become parents ourselves.

Mike Canales and I met in 1994 when we were competing at the U.S. Championships. We got married in 2006. Mike was a US Jr. National Team member and a member the ’96 NCAA Championship Team with The Ohio State University. Currently, he works for St. Vincent’s Spine & Orthopedic Institute where he’s a foot and ankle surgeon, and he still enjoys doing gymnastics today!

Do you stay in contact with the sport of gymnastics? What do you think of the direction of the sport?
Both of my kids are in gymnastics, my husband loves exploring all aspects of the sport, we traveled to London for the World Championships in 2009, and we’re making a trip to Tokyo for the 2011 World Championships. Mike and I are the official spokespeople for the 2011 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, and we both contribute to International Gymnast magazine. I’m busy with gymnastics clinics and choreography around the country, so I’d say gymnastics has NEVER played a bigger role in my life.

Quite simply, gymnastics is the greatest sport in the world, but if we don’t get a scoring system the fans, judges, coaches, and athletes understand--- I’m concerned about the future of our fan base.

If the training techniques, equipment, and injury prevention are unable to keep up the sky-rocketing difficulty requirements, I’m worried about the future of our sport at the elite level. I don’t want injuries to cause our elite gymnasts to become an endangered species.

Our sport is here to stay, but we must protect it. We must nurture it. We must work to make it popular throughout the year, not simply during the Olympic Games.

How did winning the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 shape your life as it is today?
Obviously, the gold medal in Atlanta changed my life forever, and it changed the landscape of gymnastics in America. Most importantly, the gold medal shaped my life by allowing me to connect with people on a global scale. 15 years later, I still have loyal fans who write me stories of encouragement. To inspire people that you’ve never met is a humbling experience, and that has been the greatest benefit of our victory in Atlanta!