Martha responds to Moceanu*

Martha Karolyi chose her words carefully earlier today during a conference call when she was asked about comments former U.S. Olympian Dominique Moceanu made to HBO "Real Sports," which will air a report tonight (10 p.m. EST/PST) about the physical and emotional toll that elite gymnasts pay.

Moceanu criticizes the lengthy selection process and suggests USA Gymnastics would be better off if U.S. team coordinator Martha Karolyi and her husband (and former team director), Bela, were no longer involved.

Martha Karolyi said she was "saddened" that Moceanu only remembered the bad days. "I feel sad that a gymnast so accomplished as Dominique, being part of the 1996 Olympic team and being the individual medalist in the 1995 world championships, can remember the harder days during the preparation. I feel sad."

Moceanu had been the youngest member ever of a U.S. national team when she qualified as a 13-year-old in 1995 (before age restrictions came into play). She earned a team gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics, though her hopes for an all-around medal were dashed when she suffered a stress fracture earlier in the season.

Moceanu's post-Olympic years were troubled at first.

In 1998, when she was 17, Moceanu got an order of emancipation from her father, Dumitru Moceanu (*previously mispelled Dimitru), and tried to get a restraining order against him after accusing him of stalking her. Moceanu eventually reconciled with her family, and she tried out for the 2000 Olympic team and for the 2005 national team, even attending camps at the Karolyi ranch.

She also participated in the 2004 post-Olympics gymnastics tour. She is married to former Ohio State gymnast Michael Canales and is the mother of a six-month-old daughter.

Martha Karolyi said she wouldn't respond directly to Moceanu's suggestion that the Karolyis be ousted from USA Gymnastics.

"I think the majority of the girls certainly feel very proud they were able to train those many years and be dedicated and deal with the sacrifices," she said. "Just like in any other directions or any part of life, where in order to be successful, you really have to work hard."

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Bela Karolyi trains Dominique Moceanu during a practice session in 1996 in Boston. Credit: Susan Walsh / Associated Press

Insert: Martha Karolyi at the 2008 Visa Gymnastics Championships on June 4 in Boston. Credit: Mary Schwalm / Associated Press

Comments

[Dr. Gary Stanner]

I have been coaching gymnastics for 31 years, in that time I have suspected the Karolyi Empire to be more about them, than what is really good for the athletes. USAG is the governing sport for the USA and have supported the Karolyi's to extreams, much more so that other deserving coaches & programs. I personally believe the we as Americans can win with out them. We certainly do have to have order and control in our program, but it has become more like a dictatorship, that a democracy. Like all things, I personally believe it is a time for change

[Gary]

I worked for Karolyi's back in the 80's and was impressed then. We are still fortunate to have them around. Funny how some 20 something girl thinks she knows what it takes to coach an olympian even though she currently coaches at a gym that does not produce any elite athletes. As for the "Dr" that has been coaching for 31 years...I don't remember him producing any elites either. Please, while it looks easy to arm chair quarterback, lets leave the real coaching to the professionals.

[Dr. Gary Stanner]

"Arm Chair Quarterbacks"? Hummm, I have Coached at some of the better clubs in the USA. (Not Karolyi's) but, NAAG with Dick Mulvihill, Los Altos Twisters with Kim Kludt. They have produced more Elite Gymnasts from scratch than Karolyi's has ever done. His record plainly shows that their sucess is far more from recruitment, than from development. Case in point is Mary Lou Renton. Already a national team member from Fairfax, VA. Rumor then was he called her up at home and she transfered to his program straight away. One can only guess at what she was told or offered. As for Nadia! She was so talented that almost anyone could have turned her into the champion that she was. She has earned every medal she has ever won. I am not claiming that she did not work hard to become the gymnasts that she has become. I am also not making any sort of personal attack on anyone, but this format enables us to make our opinions felt. I am not a disciple of the Karolyi Mystique, but I also have to admit that I was in awe of him the several times we have personally met at national and regional clinics. The point is: Is there a chance the American Gymnastics program would improve with out the Karolyi's? I think so. But if some of us that are still in the trenches coaching day in and day out think so, then it maybe it should happen. After all if we are wrong, we can always bring them back. No one is using a wooden stake or silver cross to get them to leave. One last thought. Would the gary writing here still be a active coach? And what level gymnasts has he produced? His only reference was that HE coached with the Karolyi's in the 80s" Just a thought...