Youngest Female U.S National Champion

At the tender age of thirteen, Dominque Moceanu was the worlds youngest U.S National Champion in the sport of Womens gymnastics. She also won gold in the 1996 Olympics. Born to Romaian immigrants, Dominique was born to be a world class gymnast. At age 3 she was enrolled in her first gymnastic class.From this point on it was all history. By the age of 10, her hardwork and talent abilites had led her to renowed gymnastic coach Bela Karolyi. With help from her coach, Dominique became the first and only gymnast to join the U.S junior national team at age 10. In 1992, at the Junior National Championship she placed 5th in the all around and became the youngest female gymnast ever to win a medal. This same year she attened the Pan American Games and earned herself 5 medals (4 of them being gold). With her powerful sports ability and dedication at the gym she pushed herself to become the worlds youngest and best female gymnast, following in the footsteps of world renowed U.S gymnast Mary Lou Retton. In 1995, at the Senior U.S championships, she became the youngest gymnast in U.S history to capture the all-around title before going on to win the title at the World Team Trials.Her biggest accomplishment was making the 1996 Olympic Women gymnastics team at age 13, and making history with her team, as the only U.S Women's gymnastics team to Win gold .

Still a coach and great rolemodel to young girls and women everywhere she continues to support women gymnastics through clinics and camps. Now a mother of two, she owns many gymnastic gyms all over the U.S and Mexico. Give motivational speeches on healthy living, focusing in sports at a young age, and how to become a rolemodel in your community.Dominque was an inspirtational female athlete to me as a young girl growing up in the sport of gymnastics.

Here are some video links of her at the 1996 Olympic games and National Championships.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6L8aZRDKcw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdmYqmoqzvs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8gFeux1344&feature=related