“My self-esteem had been chipped away […] for so many years by the very people who were supposed to encourage and support me […], the people who I trusted. I had to let go of that pain and move forward because that was the only way I could think of to grow and heal. […] Otherwise, I would never have been able to share my life story in the way that I did so candidly.”

These were the words 1996 American Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Moceanu spoke during the book signing of her newly released memoir, Off Balance, on the evening of June 28 at Barnes and Nobles.

Moceanu is the youngest American gymnast to have been on the U.S Women’s Olympic Team, the Magnificent Seven. She also won the title of senior all-around national champion at the age of 13. According to her book, her Romanian immigrant parents had moved her to Texas to train with the legendary gymnastic coaches, the Karolyis, and she has been a gymnastics idol since. Although she retired from the sport in 2006, she continues to coach regularly.

Prior to signing each individual book, Moceanu shared a glimpse of her memoir, a project she had been working on for the past seven years, by responding to the questions of the 40 people present at the signing. She discussed a variety of topics ranging from her kids and exciting memories from 1996, such as being picked up by Shaquille O’Neal, to the several hurdles she was forced to face throughout both her gymnastics career and her personal life. She talked about, for instance, the discovery of and subsequent reconciliation with her sister, who had been born without legs and adopted into another family. She also discussed the mental abuse she faced as a child from her “domineering father” and coaches.

“There wasn’t any room for voicing my opinion […] My dad meant well, but he [… became] very temperamental and had violent tendencies that scared me […] When you’re making a child so scared that she wets in her leotard, that’s […] crossing the line,” Moceanu said, reflecting on a tragic personal experience. “It’s a miracle I was able to get where I did without falling apart.”

Not every aspect of her career had been repressive, though, the athlete added. Despite all the physical injuries and emotional roller coasters she had faced, she is still “so thankful for what [her] gold medal represents to [her] now: [her] parents’ sacrifices and [her] hard work.”

“[I feel] that I was meant to be on that Olympic team […] and that everything was worth it,” she said.

Moceanu also talked of her current attempts to decrease the abuse of young athletes by coaches and parents, and the way her book has helped her achieve that goal. Currently, she is a spokesperson and volunteer for Safeforathletes.org, an association that prevents the mistreatment of aspiring athletes, in an effort to further her movement against abuse.

“I want to be part of the solution, not the problem. So many kids are forced to live in fear, and […] I want to spark a dialogue that allows people to be aware of these issues,” she said. “[My book] received tremendous […] support [from fellow gymnasts] and served as an eye-opener to many people. […] It allowed me to tell [young athletes that their] voice is important, and [their] self-worth is not defined by the color of the medal hanging around [their] neck[s].”

With the release of her book, Moceanu, currently a mother of two children, feels she can successfully move on in life as a confidant woman.

“I’m not going to let my coaches hurt me anymore. […] I’m in a balanced place in my life and they can never steal my joy again,” she said.

Off Balance is now available in stores throughout the nation, including the local Barnes and Nobles stores.