It’s the Olympic year. A good time to publish a gymnastics book. The more controversial, the better it SHOULD sell.
An unflinchingly honest memoir from Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu that reveals the often dark underbelly of Olympic gymnastics as only an insider can—and the secrets she learned about the past that nearly tore apart her family.
At fourteen years old, Dominique Moceanu was the youngest member of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastic team, the first and only American women’s team to take gold at the Olympics. Her pixie-like appearance, passion for the sport, and ferocious competitive drive quickly earned her the status of media darling. But behind the fame, the flawless floor routines, and the million-dollar smile, her life was a series of challenges and hardships.
From her stubborn father and long-suffering mother, to her acclaimed Svengali-like coach, Bela Karolyi, Off Balance reveals how each of the dominating characters contributed to Moceanu’s rise to the top. Here, Moceanu finally shares the haunting stories of competition, her years of hiding injuries and pain out of fear of retribution from her coaches, and how she hit rock bottom after being publicly scorned by her father.
But medals, murder plots, drugs, and daring escapes aside (all of which figure into Moceanu’s incredible journey), the most unique aspect of her life is the family secret that Moceanu discovers, opening a new and unexpected chapter in her adult life, just as she reclaims the love of the sport that had defined so much of her life.
A multilayered memoir that transcends the world of gymnastics and sport, Off Balance will touch anyone who has ever dared to dream of a better life.
Recall 4yrs-ago the dark underbelly of elite gymnastics book was called Chalked Up. I found it opportunist and riddled with errors. Dominique Moceanu gave it a glowing review in International Gymnast magazine.
… But I liked Dominique as a gymnast. And she’s certainly never boring. I’ll read her new book if only to see the murder plots revealed. Just as I read her many other books.
Gymnastics- How to Create Champions. Leonid Arkaiv, Nikolai Schilin.
Sacred Hoops- Phil Jackson.
Peak Performance. Charles Garfield, Hal Z. Bennett.
The Vision of a Champion. Anson Dorrance.
Zen Lessons- The Art of Leadership- translated by Thomas Clearly.
It’s Not About The Bike- Lance Armstrong.
Psychology and Gymnastics. The Ultimate Guide for Coaches, Gymnasts and Parents. Drs. Sue and Joseph Massimo (yet to be released- Don’t worry, you will be the first to know when it is out!)
And if none of those work I highly recommend: A BARTENDERS GUIDE TO COCKTAILS
Brigid linked to a good Gymnastics Zone article – Top 12 FX and Beam Dance Tips:
1. Have fun!
Many gymnasts perform as if they do not understand that the judges and audience can read their emotions just by looking at them. Nearly 70% of communication is by non-verbal means, like body posture, inner attitude and facial expression. Put yourself in a good mood and everyone will like you and your routines better.
2. Perform!
Regardless of the importance of the competition and the subsequent pressure you might feel, your real job is to perform to the best of your ability, at the particular time and place of the meet. This is your opportunity to show everyone what you have been doing in the gym for months and years. People love gymnasts who go all out to put on a show for them, regardless of their actual skill level, mistakes and competitive success. Put on a real show for them and they will love you.
That’s the title of World Champion Jordyn Wieber’s Mom’s upcoming book. Self-published, Rita’s already got a distributor.
It’s going to be interesting:
… Rita Wieber was in London visiting a friend 10 years ago when she received a call from her husband David telling her that their 6-year-old daughter had been offered a spot on an accelerated gymnastics team.
Rita Wieber called the coach, John Geddert, and was up front with him.
“My daughter just made the ‘silver stars’ team, and it’s nine hours a week — we’re thinking this is a ridiculous amount of time,” Wieber told the coach. “Do you really think she’s that good?’ ”
Geddert replied: “Well, she didn’t score very well in the skills department — she really can’t do any tricks, and she’s not that flexible — but she’s really, really strong, and that’s something you can’t necessarily teach as much as you can teach flexibility and skill. I think she has potential.” …
Where can I pre-order?
… On the other hand, Rita Wieber’s got MUCH to survive yet.
Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s actually oriented for beginner and intermediate athletes of all kinds. The emphasis is on upper body strength training using your own body weight. CrossFit and Gymnastics.
It’s $49.95 on Amazon. Unfortunately there’s no Kindle edition, as yet.
Have you wanted the G.S. George text but been deterred by the $79 plus shipping price tag?
Order from www.WinningGymnastics.com and use the Promo Code “10-OFFXMAS” to get the $10 reduction. Or telephone 760-458-4993 if you find that easier.
Of course there are already discounts for buying more than one book at a time. The best deal, I think, is Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping for 3-6 books in the USA fixed at $15.00. … Or 3-6 books overseas for $45.
Thank to Wellness Press for advertising on this site. And for giving us first notice of the Christmas special.
Power Stretching and Easy Exercises by Shiro Tanaka
In his late 50s, one of my first gymnastics mentors published his personal training program. He demonstrates all exercises himself in the home or office, using no special equipment.
I asked Shiro he’d ever done Yoga. “Never.”, he replied.
Like most of the old school gymnastics folks, he considers Yoga inferior to traditional gymnastics stretching. Shiro grew up with Tsukahara, one year younger.
Shiro’s book is not available for sale anywhere, unfortunately. It was published by his University for internal use.
But I’m inspired … just as Shiro inspired me as a gymnast and young coach. (In the late 1960s, he insisted we stretch every morning in the shower, to save time.)
His newest publication is Public Parts, the book. It touts the societal benefits of sharing:
… A visionary and optimistic thinker examines the tension between privacy and publicness that is transforming how we form communities, create identities, do business, and live our lives.
Thanks to the internet, we now live—more and more—in public. More than 750 million people (and half of all Americans) use Facebook, where we share a billion times a day. The collective voice of Twitter echoes instantly 100 million times daily, from Tahrir Square to the Mall of America, on subjects that range from democratic reform to unfolding natural disasters to celebrity gossip. New tools let us share our photos, videos, purchases, knowledge, friendships, locations, and lives. …
Alexandra Orlando is an Olympic athlete who dedicated seventeen years of her life to the sport of rhythmic gymnastics, winning almost two hundred medals. She was Senior Canadian National Champion by the age of sixteen— a title she won five times, earning her the reputation as one of the few non-Europeans competing at the highest level in this sport …
Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships is in progress in France.
… Gymnasts placing among the top 15 in the All-around qualify their country directly for the Olympic Games 2012 in London, while ranks 16-24 will have participation rights at the second Olympic qualifier, the test event on January 16-18, also in London. …
I just got my hands on a review copy. It’s by Steven Low, of the gymnastics performance troupe, Gymkana.
