US gymnast Dominique Moceanu opens up about long-lost sis in new book

Washington, July 7 (ANI): It has been 16 years since she took home the gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but Dominique Moceanu is already making headlines ahead of this year's games with a heart-wrenching story about a long-lost sibling.

In her new autobiography, 'Off Balance', the champion gymnast has revealed how on a fateful day in December 2007, she discovered that she had a sister, Jennifer Bricker, who is six years younger than Moceanu and was put up for adoption as a newborn in 1987. Bricker had been born without legs.

"The letter explained that Jennifer had always known that she was of Romanian heritage, but that it wasn't until she was turning sixteen that her adoptive parents decided to share the details of her birth," Us magazine quoted Moceanu as writing in her book.

"They revealed to her the names of her biological parents, and her biological sister. She wrote that she had been waiting four years to contact me directly.

"Jennifer would have been the middle sister. Why was she given up for adoption when Christina and I were allowed to stay?" she wrote.

The 30-year-old married mom of two, detailed how her parents attributed their quiet decision to Bricker's looming expensive medical bills, and how the cost would have been a huge financial burden on their poor family.

It's a happy ending for both her and Bricker, who became a power tumbler in the Junior Olympics, and today is a professional acrobat and aerialist. In fact, Bricker had grown up idolizing Moceanu.

"I wouldn't shut up about her! I knew she was Romanian. I knew we looked alike. Her biggest fan!" Bricker told ABC News.

"It's so much fun every time the three of us get together. And I can't believe this crazy life is my crazy life. And by crazy, I mean awesome!" Bricker added. (ANI)