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[August 8] The
Countdown for Worlds Championships has begun
Deva, Romania
Romanian gymnastics team have assisted today at
the installing of the new gym equipment which just arrived.
It's a new type (no more J&F), same type to be used at
the Worlds Championships in Denmark.
This event can mark the beginning of a countdown
to Worlds Championships. Former team member Floarea
Leonida has returned at team this week. "Despite
the fact she was very criticized in the past for some of her
bad moments, Floarea has jumped to help the team in a difficult
moment. She didn't thought much about her personal chances
for medals, she will compete for the team and this is great"
-said main coach Nicolae
Forminte
for romanian-gymnastics.com earlier today.
There is still a (slim) chance for the Romanian gymnastics
fans to see a return of their favorite, Catalina
Ponor. She did a great job at Euros and she may want
to retire now; facing the strong competitors from USA, China
and even the new come Italy, Catalina
Ponor don't want to risk again her image, like at
the first post-Athens Worlds. RGF is not known for their ability
to conduct negotiations with former gymnasts , so the only
hope may come from Catalina herself and her (famous) Mom.
Unfortunately, the gracious and
much admired Andreea
Munteanu is out of the question for the Worlds, because
of her bad medical track. She already told that she can't
return, no matter what, because her medical condition does
not allow this. All those years with a poor quality medical
assistance (if one), the (almost) non existent post traumatic
therapies...now take revenge.
However, beside medals (which
are good but not the main goal at this Worlds) the Romanian
gymnastics team need as much help as they can get. Catalina's
ambition and determination can have a positive (and big) influence
for a good result for the team. For Ponor, this is the most
important decision in her life: if she take the risk and compete,
she may not get a Gold medal, as people use to expect from
the Queen of Athens*.
Catalina can help, once more, the Romanian gymnastics
team in the most difficult moment, past 30 years. She owe
this to the Romanian gymnastics and she may think more about
doing this.
The Big Revolution in Romanian gymnastics has started
in 2005 with Catalina's (very brave) announcement that she
will leave the team (after being treated, as usually, with
less-than-deserved consideration by former coaches). She wanted
to prove to "them" and to the World that she can
do it to Euros. And she did. Almost by herself and with the
great support of her Mom (which deserve the title "Mom
of the Year in Gymnastics"), with the great work of coach
Matei Stanei.
Catalina
Ponor have had strong back pains past months. Up to
a point, this is normal. All former gymnasts have (big) pains,
especially because nobody from the medical team at Deva or
INMS have bothered to teach them what to do after retire.
Top medical specialists consulted by romanian-gymnastics.com
have advised retired girls (we have seen this past years)
to...continue with light training (running, swimming) after
they retire, otherwise the body suffer major schoks-and here
are the big, big pains! After 10 years or more of hard training,
the body (not the brain:-), ha-ha!) still want to be pushed
to the limit, as it was instructed to do so.
This time, Catalina can have a unique chance to make
(again) history. This time is not even about medals, it's
not about money (but the Worlds can bring up to $60,000 during
next years, due to an increase of 40% of pension) it's about
her attitude: can she make (another) sacrifice and return
to the team, to help it in the darkest moments? Tough
decision, but if she do, Romanian gymnastics fans and the
Romanian gymnastics history will remember her for doing this.
It's not about medals, it's
not about personal image, it's not about money; it's about
the spirit which only, only the Great Champions may have (and
she has it, if she look deeper): compete for the people who
loves you, compete for the team, finish the job you have started
(helping the first, badly needed, long waited, big changes
in the Romanian gymnastics).
Maybe you will not get the Gold in Melbourne,
Catalina; but you can help things to change in good, for good
(finally) in Romanian gymnastics! You can make history.This
is a real challenge for a Queen of Gymnastics, for a Champion!
...Otherwise, all those efforts, including
your, Catalina, to change (in better) the Romanian gymnastics
may be blow in the wind...and "they" will return.
For the  time.
romanian-gymnastics.com
*she got 3 medals at Athens, she was the most beloved gymnast
by the public, most gracious; until Beijing, she deserve the
Title of the Queen; she has confirmed at Euros that she is
a Queen and not just a Comet in gymnastics, shining only for
a week at Olympics...
Romanian Gymnastics News Archive.
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