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Exclusive! Exclusive! Exclusive!
Daniela
Sofronie retirement interview
-Hello Daniela, how are you?
Daniela
Sofronie: Fine, just finished the work for today at
my new job.
-Tell me more about you job; it's for real or a "paper-only"?
[it's common in Romania&Europe to provide fake jobs
for top athletes; they get the payment but don't have to do
much for it].
Daniela
Sofronie: It's a real job, I'm going there every
day after school at the county Sport Department and work for
few hours. One of my first duties consist of checking all
the newspapers about sport articles [especially about local
sport counties], make copies and deliver to the management.
This was my first day, during this week I will get more assignments.
-You still go to school, aren't you?
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, first things first, I have to finish
my school first (she still have two more years).But in the
mentime I will spend few hours at my job, too.
[our note: the rumors about Daniela going abroad were,
like in many other cases, a misinterpretation; she just attended
a game of a local team with a Cyprus one but that's all]
-I've heard that you have attended a handball game last
Sunday. How come?
Daniela
Sofronie: I know most of the local team members and
went there to encourage them in an international game (Daniela
favorite team won in front of a Nicosia team).
-It's almost funny; early September, I've heard about you
wanting to train at Deva. Soon after this, the retirement
was announced and I was very surprised, like many of your
fans.Can you explain?
Daniela
Sofronie: I thought the time until Worlds was too
short to achieve a high level and I was afraid to go and not
being able to compete at my best level as people would expect.
Unfortunately, last weeks of my training weren't too helpful
and I thought it's better for me to retire now.
-If you don't come to this decision of retiring, did you
intend to try AA at Worlds?
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, I wanted to do it.
-Which girl from our team you think may have now chances
for medals at Worlds?
Daniela
Sofronie: I prefer not to answer at this question.
[Daniela has explained to us she like not to make any classify
among former colleagues].
-What do you like more at school?
Daniela
Sofronie: Biology.
-What music you like?
Daniela
Sofronie: Dance.
-What movies do you like?
Daniela
Sofronie: American comedies.
-Do you have any pets?
Daniela
Sofronie: I have a little puppy, a Pekingese named
Millie.
-What food you like more, now that you can eat as much
as you want, any time you want...?
Daniela
Sofronie: (laughing) No, no, I'm on
diet, I don't like to get overweight. I want to be thin and
boys to like me (laughing).
-...After such an answer, you will get few hundreds more
letters; we already got like 1500 "I love Dana"
messages, so be ready to pay a drink to your postman.
-What books do you read?
Daniela
Sofronie: I don't have much time now to read, I have
to catch up at school and read a lot for school. But yes,
I've read and like Harry Potter adventures.
-Which is your favorite gymnast, apart from Romanian ones?
Daniela
Sofronie: I like and admire Khorkina for her dedication
and longevity; my favorite is Carly Patterson.
-How do you spend your free time?
Daniela
Sofronie: I like to play games on my computer, (she
has a laptop) and also take long walks.
-Don't you have much regrets that you don't go at Worlds?
Daniela
Sofronie: No, not so many. I fell happy and like my
"new life".
-Did you get the doll which Oana Ban have send to you?
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, I received and liked it, it's very
nice. I'm happy for her she managed to have one.
-Did you get the Star Certificate with your name? [the present
we made to the girls from team, last Christmas]
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, thank you, I have it in my room.
-Have you got many letters from fans?From where?
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, at Deva I've got many and I use to
answer as often I could.I remember about a girl from Holland
and a lot of letters from USA.
Daniela
Sofronie: If a young girl, a gymnast, will write
you to ask about an advice, what would you answer?
- To work hard, to work as much as she can; to be prepared
to make (a lot of ) sacrifices to get top results.
-Favorite apparatus?
Daniela
Sofronie: Uneven bars.
-...By the way, how come you was the only one from the team
with a good evolution at UB?
Daniela
Sofronie: I liked it since I was a kid and worked
with much more pleasure than at others.
-Which girl from the present junior team may be the new
star?
Daniela
Sofronie: I didn't saw them too much on training or
competitions but from what I've heard Steliana Nistor is a
promising gymnast.
-I have selected few questions and messages from your fans
which we received past months. Here we go.
Adelison Matias Teixeira, Brazil:" I admire Dana a lot
and she is very beautiful, wonderful Dana."
Nick, USA:"I was impressed by the Romanian team and by
the graceful performance of the young talent Daniela Sofronie,
that won silver on the floor exercise."
Daniela
Sofronie:Thanks for compliments.
Lavinia, USA: "My favorite gymnastic girl is Nicoleta
Daniela Sofronie ...I love her gymnastics things she do...Do
you have some website? Please tell me."
Daniela
Sofronie: No, I don't but will let you know [romanian-gymnastics.com]
about anything interesting to write.
Jade, USA:" I love your floor skills; are you planning
to compete AA at Worlds?"
Daniela
Sofronie: If I didn't retire, yes. Now I'm retired
and this is out of question.
John, USA:"I was wondering if you could tell us the name
of the song you choose for your FX at the 04 Europeans. It
was a wonderful song and wonderful routine.
- It was something like "Dexter identrice" (?)-will
check the correct name and add.
Jared, USA and Amit, USA: "I was wondering what you
will do after you retire?"
Daniela
Sofronie: I'm going to school and working, too; will
go to college also.
Shona Welsh: "How did you feel winning a silver medal
on floor in Athens after replacing Oana Ban?"
Daniela
Sofronie: I wanted all the best for Oana but
this was my chance to compete. I felt sorry for her but she
was happy, too that I can replace her and made it.
Ivana, Croatia:
1)"Do you think about going to college after gymnastic?"
Daniela
Sofronie: Yes, will go to the sport university (IEFS).
2)"Who is your favorite (male) gymnast?"
Daniela
Sofronie: Marius Urzica
2)-"How do you manage to stay so calm before performing?
You always look so peaceful and an advice fro you would be
great!"
Daniela
Sofronie: I didn't let my feelings to show up; I tried
to keep my feelings inside; always think like "this is
only a small contest, a test one."
-[our question]Did coaches learned you this?
Daniela
Sofronie: No, it was my idea to think like this.
Victor Kao, USA:
"What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"
Daniela
Sofronie: I like having long walks, alone.
"Are you a fan of any sports other than gymnastics?"
Daniela
Sofronie: I like volleyball, to see and play, too.
"How happy were you when you stood on the podium with
teammate Catalina Ponor in the floor exercise finals?
Daniela
Sofronie: Being on the podium along with one of your
teammate is like having a double ice cream, the pleasure is
double, of course (laughing).
Fil Kuziev, Rusia:
"I want that you write me the address or the e-mail of
Daniela Sofronie. Please help me! Thank you."
Daniela Sofronie new Fan Mail address
You can now write directly to Daniela Sofronie, using this
new (fan mail) address:
Miss Daniela Sofronie
c/o Directia Judeteana pentru Sport Constanta
str.Ion Banescu nr.2,
Constanta, zip code 900 669
judetul (county) Constanta
Romania, Europe
If you want a reply, please include a IRC coupon (stamps are
not valid outside the country who made them).
-Thank you, Daniela for answering to our questions; it's
been a pleasure to talk with you and I'm sure that all your
fans will appreciate your effort.Good luck at school, at your
new job and hope to hear you soon!
Daniela
Sofronie: You are welcome.
Romanian Gymnastics News Archive.
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