By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer 
7/8/00

Airborne 
Gymnast Dominique Moceanu, viewed from any angle, is a delight to see in action on the vault at the U.S. Classic.
STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World
 

At 14, Dominique Moceanu was America's darling at the 1996 Olympics. Now she's 18 and ready for an encoure.

Four years ago Dominique Moceanu was taking the gymnastics world by storm.

 Today, she is one of dozens of gymnasts hoping to qualify for the U.S. Nationals in two weeks in St. Louis, Mo.

 Moceanu was the 14-year-old darling of the U.S. women's gymnastics team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. The youngest of the famed Magnificent Seven, Moceanu finished ninth in the all-around category.

 Life seemed idyllic for the Romanian teenager, who toured with her American teammates two years after the '96 Games.

 But Moceanu seemed to draw more attention for problems that plagued her personal life. A rift between her and her parents made national headlines. Her professional career took an abrupt turn last October when coach Luminita Miscenco ended her association with Moceanu.

 Now, at age 18, Moceanu seems to have left all the negatives behind. Since signing on with Mary Lee Tracy of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, Moceanu has gotten her professional and personal career back on track.

 "The past few years have been tough," Moceanu admitted. "But with God's strength it has been a great turnaround, beginning with joining Mary Lee's gym. It took awhile to get back in shape, but eventually I did it."

 And none too soon considering her bid for the 2000 Olympic team. It begins Saturday in Tulsa at the U.S. Classic. Moceanu must qualify in one of the top 12 spots to earn a bid to the U.S. Nationals.

 "Workouts have been great," Moceanu said during a break in Friday's practice at the ORU Mabee Center.

 She admits to feeling the layoff of two years.

 "When I walked into the arena (on Thursday) I turned to Mary Lee and told her it had been a long time, it feels weird," she said.

 Once on the floor, however, Moceanu felt at home.

 "It's exciting because I have trained my butt off," she said.

 Tracy said she believes Moceanu can make the Olympic team.

 "She's been very focused and I couldn't ask for any more as far as her hard work goes at the gym," Tracy said. "Her routines have been very consistent. Since we've been here she's been a little shaky. I think it's the feeling of competition again. It's been two years since she competed, but I always believe training pays off so I really hope she is able to pull it together. But it's better here to get the jitters out than at (National) Championships or (Olympic) Trials."

 Moceanu credits fellow senior international competitors Morgan White and Alyssa Beckerman with pushing her in workouts.

 "It's great to have them in the gym," Moceanu said. "We all help each other out whether in the gym or outside just getting some laughs. We work well as a team and get along really great."

 Only in gymnastics would an 18-year-old Olympian be looked upon as a veteran. But that is exactly how Moceanu's peers see her.

 "I like to think I'm a leader," she said. "It's a case of been there, done that. If I can use that to help out my teammates, that's great. I try to encourage them to step up to the plate and try."

 Should Moceanu make the Olympic team this time around, it will be for her, not anyone else.

 "When I made the Olympic team four years ago I really didn't know what was going on," she said. "I was overwhelmed. I just kept saying `Wow, this is the Olympics.'"

 Those problems forced her to grow up in a hurry. Now on her own in Cincinnati, Moceanu has, by her own admission, "become an adult."

 "I'm happy with my career," she said. "I've done a lot. To make another Olympics would be icing on the cake."