Moceanu Withdraws from Gymnastics Trials

ByABC News
August 17, 2000, 9:41 AM

B O S T O N, Aug. 17 -- Dominique Moceanu overcame the bitter split with her parents and the years of bouncing from gym to gym and coach to coach. In the end, though, it was her body that betrayed her.

The youngest member of the Magnificent Seven withdrew from theOlympic trials late Wednesday night because of a bone chip in herright knee.

The hardest part after talking to her was, Ive worked sohard. Ive put so much into this comeback, said Mary Lee Tracy,Moceanus coach.

Hurt and Dejected

Moceanu, 18, had surgery on the same knee last year, and thebone chip came about gradually, Tracy said. Moceanus knee gave outduring practice Tuesday, and the pain worsened.

By Wednesday morning, she could barely train and her knee gaveout on her periodically. In afternoon workouts, she could onlymanage some simple sit-ups and handstands while the rest of thegymnasts went through their full routines for competition, whichbegins Friday night.

She quit practice early, watching from the sidelines with adejected look on her face.

This isnt something thats just going to get better, shesaid then. It needs to get fixed.

Dislodged Chip Caused Pain

She was right.

Though initial tests didnt show any problems, the bone chip wasdiscovered when doctors spoke with the orthopedic surgeon whooperated on her knee last year. The chip had dislodged itself,preventing Moceanu from even being able to bend or straighten herknee.

She is expected to fly back to Cincinnati on Monday and havesurgery next week.

It wasnt really so much an accident. It just startedhurting, Tracy said. It had been a little bit of nagging achesand pain, but these kids have so much of that they never know whenits the beginning of something. It was the beginning ofsomething.

Moceanu was not immediately available for comment. She wasexpected to hold a news conference today.