CLEVELAND, Ohio – Dominique Moceanu, 23, the youngest member (14) of the “Magnificent 7” 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Gymnastics Team, slated to make her gymnastics comeback after a five-year hiatus at this weekend’s U.S. Classic in Virginia Beach, Va., has announced her withdrawal from the competition. Moceanu will seek treatment for achilles tendinosis and shift her focus toward 2006.

Moceanu’s decision came late Tuesday evening after consulting with medical staff upon receiving results from an MRI scan. Moceanu first began experiencing pain in May, but decided to resume training with the hope that she would soon recover. Continued pain coupled with long term competitive aspirations led her to this final decision.