Growing Up
I met Dominique when we were around 10 I think. She lived here in Tampa and was taking gymnastics at LaFleur's Gym. Her house was in a subdivision called Raintree and my grandparents lived right across the street from her. We went to my grandparent's house almost every weekend. My sister and I would get bored so we'd ride bikes around Raintree. One day we met a girl named Dominique and it turned out she lived across from my grandparent's condo. So we followed her there, put our bikes away, and hung out together. She was so sweet! And muscular! I'd never seen anyone my age with that much strength! She told me that she was training to be in the Olympics someday. Of course my reaction was "yeah right"! But I didn't tell her that! Well we'd get together every time I visited my grandparents. My grandpa told me that he took walks with her grandfather when he would walk her sister(she was not even a toddler then!). I introduced her to my mom and my mom asked me, "Why is that girl so muscular?" I said, "Oh, she says she's gonna be in the Olympics one day." I don't think my mom believed it either! There was one afternoon that I walked over to see if she could play. I knocked on the door and a man answered and said, "Sorry, there's no Dominique that lives here." She had moved away, and I had no clue where to.....that is, until a few years ago when my sister spotted her on a commercial. I found out she really was training for the Olympics! I hated myself for not believing her! l haven't tried to write her or anything because I know how much fan mail she must get. In her biography there's an area with a bunch of pictures of her. One of those pictures was taken in Raintree. I can tell because there's a lightpost in the background and it's just like the ones in Raintree and it's a picture of exactly how I remember her. Well I just wanted everyone to know about me and my experience with Dominique!By: Jenny
John Hancock Tour
On January 15, 1997 I went to the John Hancock Tour in Rochester,NY.
Dominique performed on the floor and the beam. Afterwards we had bought
tickets to go to a banquet at a nearby Radission Hotel to meet all the
gymnasts on the tour. Dominique showed up in a blue Tommy Hilfigger
sweatshirt and sweatpants and sat at a table with Jaycie Phelps and
Jennie Thompson. I talked to her about if she was going to go the next
Olympics or not.(maybe) I also got my picture taken with her and all the
other gymnasts. It was awesome:)!!
By: Lei
Crush
It all happened when my mom called me out in 2 the living room saying
"Alan! Look!" and pointing at the TV. The John Hancock Tour was coming 2
MY TOWN! (Madison, WI). I was soooooooo hyped up! I bragged 2 everyone
at school all the time about my autographed pictures of 'Nique and
letters! When I showed them 2 the girlz at my school, they freaked! I
had been a fan of Dominique's 4 a LONG time! Finally the day came and it
was time 2 go. I took off school that day 'cuz my mom is cool and she
let me skip. I went 2 the store and bought 2 dozen "Sweetheart" roses 4
'Nique. Along w/ a card and a little stuffed elephant. Then we were
ready 2 go. On the ride there I kept telling my mom "I'm gonna' faint, I
swear I'm gonna' faint!" And she just kept saying "She is just human." Not 2 me she isn't! Then we finally got there (We were the first ones in the place) I saw Dominique Dawes stretching on the floor. I said "Look mom, there is Dominique Dawes!" and she said "Look over there." I did and I was shocked. 5 feet away from me was DOMINIQUE MOCEANU! I couldn't move. I sat down in my front row seat and just stared. Then I thought "I better talk 2 her or at least try 2 before anyone else comes in here!" So I slowly walked up 2 the blue floor exercise mat and said a softly. "Dominique." She turned around and looked at me. Then she smiled a HUGE smile! I was almost frozen it seem like. I said "Can I get a picture?" and she was walking towards me!! Then she stopped about 4 feet from me and posed, smiled and waved! I took the picture and said "Thank you so much!" She said "I got 2 get back 2 practice. You keep writing." I said "I will." Then she smiled at me and said "Bye." I sat down and some people had came in by then. A couple of them tried 2 talk 2 her but she ignored them. And everytime I said something 2 her she would answer me! My mom told me that Dominique seemed 2 have a little crush on me. That made me happy! Even hearing it come from my mother! Well, if you have seen the JH tour show on TV then you will notice one part in the act Dominique sits down on the balance beam until it is her turn again.
Well, I was watching the show. And my mom tapped my shoulder and I said
"What mom? Wait." and then she said "No. Look at the beam." I looked
over at the beam and Dominique was staring at me! I looked back at her
and smiled then she smiled and turned 2 watch the show. Every once in a
while I would catch her looking at me. Then when the show was over I
went up 2 her and tryed 2 give her the gifts, and a guard grabbed me and
pulled me back. Dominique angrily said "It's okay!" The guards let me
go, but proceeded 2 watch me like a hawk. I handed her the flowers and
elephant. She said "Thank you very much." I said "You are so welcome
Dominique." Then she gave me a small but memorable hug. And said "Good
bye. Keep writing." Stunned by what happened, I said "Okay bye 'Nique."
She walked off and some people in the crowds were stunned at what I had
accomplished! I walked away w/ a huge smile on my face. That night I
cried A LOT! I think half of it was because, I met her. I actually met
her. And the other half was, she had 2 leave. No one at my school
believed me until I showed them the pictures. They felt mighty stupid
then! Dominique is going 2 be on tour in my town again next year. Trust
me, I WILL be there! I know she'll remember me. Well, that is my
experience. Thanx 4 listening.
By: Alan Johnson
How Cute!
We met her at the San Diego tour stop. Tatiana was born with a heart defect and her favorite thing to do (it put the biggest smile on her face!) was to read Dominques book. She actually just looked at the photos inside and knew all the other gymnasts in the photos. She learned all their names (at age 15 months) and had their posters all over her wall. Anyway, with all the doctor appointments she went through, we thought it would be nice to have her meet Dominique when she came to town. We went through alot of hassle with the sponsor but finally got passes to go backstage. Dominique never knew the hole story but, after the show, Tataina got to meet her and they hit it off. Dominique liked holding her and liked that she knew how to say her name. Also, after the first shot (the one on the left when looking at the page, we thoguht we were out of film. So we went back as she was leaving and before we could ask, Dominique picked her up and gave her another big hug and we got one last photo. Long story....but she met the rest of the gymnasts and loved them all. Kim Zmeskal was the best. She talked to her and played with her a little bit....she was VERY nice......Shannon Miller was the worst....didn't seem happy to be there....but we thought that was just because she was probably so tired with the travel. Anyway, that the story. Sorry so long....keep in touch.
By: Anna and Tatiana
School Friends
Dominique Moceanu use to live in Florida. I lived there my whole life. I passed her subdivison everyday, and constantly passed her house to visit my friend. Me and Dominique went to the same public school, and I remember talking to her once in a while. I later moved on to private school, and my friends that were girls would talk about gymnastics. by about sixth grade they had given up the sport. I honestly did not know gymnastics was a sport. Well one day I see this girl on T.V. I believe the today show. I really didn't pay much attension. But her face looked so familiar. any way I went to my friends house. No guys includind me really liked gymnastics. i was looking through his year book and i saw Dominique's picture. i told him that I saw her on t.v. He said what for I, said for gymnastics. he laughed at me. That's when it accured to me that she was the girl i knew from school. well the olympics came around and now i watched her do gymnastics in utter amazement. I would do anything to go back in time to talk to her a little longer. The thing was is that she wasn't all that popular at school, i mean she had friends but she well- known like she is now. very few people believe me but I know that I use to kinda know her and one day I hope are paths will cross again. If you are any affiliated with dominique please tell her i said hi. I have written to her but she only respons by sending the same letter she sends everyone else, I can't blame her for that.By: Daniel
Email Me with your story!
