When people read my column, they often ask where they can learn more about gymnastics and its history. In honor of Jordan Chiles’ newly released book, which I haven’t had a chance to read yet, here are some of my top book recommendations!
Honorable mentions: “Chalked Up” by Jennifer Sey; “Landing on My Feet” by John P Lopez and Kerri Strug; “Start By Believing” by John Barr and Dan Murphy; “The Girls” by Abigail Pesta.
4. “What Is a Girl Worth?” by Rachael Denhollander
This memoir by Rachael Denhollander, the first gymnast to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of abuse, chronicles her fight for justice on behalf of the many gymnasts abused by him. The title refers to Denhollander’s poignant statement in the courtroom, where she asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence on Nassar, famously asking, “How much is a little girl worth?”
3. “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes” by Joan Ryan
I have vivid memories of summers with my grandmother, walking to the local library to pick out a book to read by the pool. In the library’s limited sports section, this was one of just two books on gymnastics, so I read it over and over. Published in 1995, “Little Girls in Pretty Boxes” is a powerful nonfiction work by Joan Ryan, a San Francisco Chronicle sports writer. The book examines the harsh and extreme training regimens of young girls in gymnastics and figure skating. Ryan conducted nearly 100 interviews with former gymnasts, figure skaters and related professionals. Regarded by many as one of the most influential books in gymnastics, it’s a must read.
2. “The End of the Perfect 10” by Dvora Meyers
Published in 2016, “The End of the Perfect 10” offers an insightful look into the history and evolution of gymnastics. The title refers to the shift from the old “perfect 10” scoring system to the current “open-ended” system, which combines difficulty and execution. Dvora Meyers, a gymnastics expert and freelance journalist for publications like The Guardian, provides a technical, sport-focused approach to exploring gymnastics. The book focuses on key innovators in the sport while examining the cultural forces that shaped its development over time.
1. “Off Balance” by Dominique Moceanu
I couldn’t put this book down. “Off Balance” is a 2012 memoir by Dominique Moceanu, the youngest member of the Magnificent Seven — the first American gymnastics team to win gold at the Olympics. Moceanu, of Romanian descent, offers a raw, unfiltered look into her life, both in and out of the gym.
This book is especially meaningful to me because, as a child, my great aunt gave me Moceanu’s 1996 autobiography, “Dominique Moceanu: An American Champion.” I pored over it for hours, captivated by the family photos in the middle. With its depiction of a happy girl achieving success in something she loved, it was easily the most-read gymnastics book of my childhood.
In 2012, Moceanu released her adult memoir, detailing her true tumultuous journey through elite gymnastics before and after the 1996 Olympics. She reveals (stop here if you don’t want spoilers) that she had a sister born without legs, whom her parents gave up for adoption without telling her. She also writes about how her father stole the millions she earned after the Olympics and later put a hit out on her coach. Moceanu was one of the first to speak out about Bela and Martha Karolyi’s abuse years before their eventual reckoning in 2017.
This powerful, emotional book had me hooked from start to finish. I listened to the entire seven-hour audiobook in one sitting.
