[March 31] Nadia Comaneci at Laureus Sports Awards
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Barcelona and London/ Hollywood star Cuba Gooding Jr is to host the 2007 Laureus World Sports Awards in Barcelona, and world-famous British pop band Sugababes are to perform on stage for a star-studded audience.
 Photo:
LONDON - MARCH 30: Laureus World Sports Academy members Sir Bobby Charlton and Nadia Comanecilook on during the ICAP and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Dinner on March 30, 2007 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images for Laureus)
   Also present will be Romanian Gymnastics and Sport Legend Nadia Comaneci, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, popular stars Eva Longoria and Kyle MacLachlan from US TV show Desperate Housewives, Canadian actress Elisha Cuthbert star of TV Series 24, Argentinian super model Valeria Mazza and celebrated Spanish flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes.

[March 27] Martha & Bela Karolyi, Comaneci's coaches, awarded Trophy
romanian-gymnastics.com
    Famous former Romanian Gymnastics coaches Martha and Bela Karolyi, the Comaneci's coaches, were awarded on Monday the "Trainer of Legend" Trophy during a festivity in Bucharest. The ceremony was attended by renown sportsmen and former disciples, including former gymnasts : Nadia Comaneci, Anca Grigoras, Georgeta Milea (from Montreal '76 team) and Luminita Milea, Marilena Vladarau.
   Martha and Bela Karolyi were trainers of the Romanian women gymnastics team between 1973 and 1981 when the Romanian gymnasts won 18 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals in two Olympiads, two World and three European Championships.

[March 25] Nadia Comaneci recorded a song for children
romanian-gymnastics.com
   BUCHAREST/ Nadia Comaneci has recorded a song for children, part of an Album to be released during April, album called "Music Box 6".
   "It's the first time somebody ask me to record a song; I just did voice-over for gymnastics competitions before. I'm happy to do something for children and I hope they will enjoy it. I wish I could see and hear Ilie Nastase-a famous tennis player and close friend- doing this , too!"- said Nadia Comaneci with a Perfect 10 smile after she recorded the song.
[March 25] Cactus Award for Bela Karolyi and wife Martha Karolyi
    30 years ("better later than never") after introducing the most cruel, brutal and abusive, Soviet-inspired gymnastics training system in Romania, Bela Karolyi and wife Martha got the "deserved" recognition: "The Platinum Cactus Award" from the most popular webiste (Google) about Romanian gymnastics: www.romanian-gymnastics.com.
   We wanted to be the firsts to "honor" Karolyi's achievements in Romanian gymnastics, after he complained in an interview for a Bucharest tabloid that he never got an Award in Romania.
   This first announced special platinum Award is unique because Karolyi husbands were, for a decade, a unique pair of coaches: their "training" methods and children's food deprivation exceeds by far those from Nazi concentration camps and will be included one day into the Black Book of Gymnastics. 

[March 25] Andreea Raducan in TVR1 sport documentary
   The Romanian national television TVR1 will broadcast a documentary about former gymnast and Sydney Olympics Legend, Andreea Raducan.
  The documentary will have two parts, to be aired on March 25 (from 14,20) and April 1st.
will be updated with video link, details

[March 24] Romanian Gymnasts: Six Finals at World Cup in Cottbus
   Romanian gymnasts Aluissa Lacusteanu, Floarea Leonida, Razvan Selariu and Daniel Popescu qualified for six apparatus finals in the Gymnastics World Cup from Cottbus, a competition which ends on Sunday.
   Floarea Leonida qualified for the final in parallel bars and balance beam, and Aluissa Lacusteanu will compete in the finals at floor exercise and balance beam.
 Cottbus World Cup Results

[March 24] Corina Ungureanu won the first contest in TV Dance Show
   Late last night Corina Ungureanu won the first contest during the TV Dance Show "Dancing for You"; this victory let her compete during next weeks of the TV Show.
    Among the fans who attended the live show, many former gymnasts: Andreea Raducan ,Andreea Isarescu, Monica Rosu , Silvia Stroescu , Sabina Cojocar , Marius Urzica , Bogdan Orzata and Corina Ungureanu's boyfriend.
   Video: First dance contest in TV Show, won by Corina Ungureanu, click here.

[March 23] Corina Ungureanu will compete tonight...in a dance show
  Former Romanian Gymnastics and Playboy star Corina Ungureanu will compete again tonight against another couple, in a live TV show. She has to get more votes than the other pair, to remain in contest.
  Corina Ungureanu compete in "Dancing for You" TV show
  Corina Ungureanu dancing video, click here ,    video- 2, click here
  (Corina Ungureanu dancing Photo Gallery ,click here)

[March 21] World Cup: The return of "Super Girl" Floarea Leonida!
romanian-gymnastics.com
BUCHAREST - After the low scores at Paris World Cup for Romanian gymnastics competitors, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation has decided to send at Cottbus World Cup this week another gymnasts: Aluissa Lacusteanu and Floarea Leonida .
Teammates Sandra Izbasa and Steliana Nistor will stay home, watch TV and think about what went wrong in Paris World Cup last week :-)
   Once more, Floarea Leonida is seen as a possible last hour solution to save the team... which means that RGF is facing a serious shortage of top female gymnasts!
  Marian Dragulescu needs some rest before Euros, he will be replaced at Cottbus World Cup by Marius Berbecar ; the other gymnast are Razvan Selariu and Daniel Popescu. Flavius Koczi got an injury Tuesday and will not compete.
 Cottbus World Cup Results

[March 18] Paris World Cup : Marian Dragulescu, King of The World!
romanian-gymnastics.com
  PARIS – Marian Dragulescu has confirmed his status as King of The World Gymnastics but Sandra Izbasa had an surprisingly modest debut this year at the season-opening World Cup gymnastics competition Sunday in Paris-Bercy.
    Vanessa Ferrari of Italy took her revenge over Romanian gymnastics team and especially Romanian coach Nicolae Forminte which lashed out at the judges at the World Gymnastics Championships in Aarhus last October...

[March 13] Alina Lazar and Lia Siminic, other abused romanian gymnasts
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Two other abused Romanian gymnasts, Alina Lazar and Lia Siminic, told their sad stories to the media. Their former coaches are the same: Marcel Benea and Mariana Tomceanu; we included them, once more, on the Wall of Shame.
 Send us your comments or suggest a coach, click this link
[March 13] Alina Lazar and Lia Siminic, another abused romanian gymnasts
romanian-gymnastics.com

[March 12] Romanian gymnastics abusive coaches-The Wall of Shame
romanian-gymnastics.com EXCLUSIVE
 
[March 11] Corina Ungureanu compete in "Dancing for You" TV show
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Former gymnast and Playboy Star Corina Ungureanu will "compete" in a TV show "Dancing for You", starting on march 16. It's a soap opera spiced with charity alike show, same one where Maria Olaru was expelled from the very beginning last year.
  Top Romanian stars from music, sport and cinema "compete" in a 6 weeks dance contest; each pair support a charity cause or something alike. The winner will get the fat $ 50,000 check and few more others runner up will get some $3-5,000 payments, also. 
Related:   [Dec 6, 2006] Maria Olaru's drama : who's next?
   Videos:
   Corina Ungureanu video interview about "Dancing For You" TV Show
   Corina Ungureanu video training for "Dancing For You" TV Show

[ March 9] Gymnastics coach faces alcohol-charge sentence
Indianapolis Star, IN
  A New Palestine High School gymnastics coach who provided alcohol to members of her team will be sentenced at 9 a.m. March 16 in Hancock Superior Court 2.   Andrea Chestnut pleaded guilty Tuesday to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor, according to Hancock County Prosecutor Dean Dobbins. Chestnut turned her home over to members of the gymnastics team while she and her boyfriend went away for the night.
   Chestnut also left her 11-year-old daughter with the team, according to police, asking a 16-year-old male team manager to look after the girl. Chestnut gave the alcohol to the team manager in the school's parking lot.

[March 8] Sandra Izbasa named Romanian Athlete of 2006
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Bucharest/ Sandra Izbasa was named Romanian Athlete of 2006, while Catalina Ponor got second place; she did not attend the ceremony (scarlet fever).

[March 7] Balancing the diet: Eating disorders & gymnastics
Salt Lake Tribune, UT
   Olympic gymnasts Kathy Johnson, Nadia Comaneci and Cathy Rigby have all spoken of eating disorders. Am I fat? Am I too thin? What is my right weight? Do I need to look like the model on the magazine? Virtually every female, and likely every male, has asked at some point. Imagine the additional pressures gymnasts face, though, putting on a leotard and performing in front of thousands of people, and working out in front of coaches without concern over what they think of you.
  Recent studies have shown while the climate has improved for female athletes, eating disorders are still an issue, even if many athletes haven't been diagnosed with a full-blown disorder."Gymnastics in itself doesn't cause eating disorders, but there is a vulnerability there that may get exposed if triggered...  

[March 6] New Palestine Gymnastics Coach Charged (WISH, IN)
   NEW PALESTINE, Ind. - Monday the Hancock County prosecutor filed formal charges against a high school gymnastics coach and she is not the only one in trouble over a teen party with alcohol.
   During her seven years as gymnastics coach at New Palestine High School, 30-year-old Andrea Chestnut has led the team to several sectional championship wins. But that will not be the case this year, Chestnut now faces criminal charges.
   "The kids on the gymnastics team were having a party at her home without her present, without any adult present and she had furnished the alcohol," said Dean Dobbins, Hancock County Prosecutor.
Related:
Indianapolis Star: Police say coach gave teen gymnasts alcohol
CBS 2, CA:  Gymnastics Instructor Faces Child Porn Charges
Indianapolis Star, IN: Gymnastics coach faces alcohol-charge sentence

[ March 5] Gymnastics coach held on child porn charges
Baltimore Sun
    A Baltimore County gymnastics coach who told authorities he is "fascinated by little girls" faces federal charges of possessing child pornography after investigators seized from his home more than 800 videotapes and magazines showing children having sex with men, and books and newspaper articles about pedophilia and child abduction.
   Patrick David Bogan, 41, of Edgewood was arrested Friday after federal agents searched the home he shares with his 73-year-old mother, according to court records. If convicted, Bogan could be sentenced up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said Monday after a detention hearing in federal court in Baltimore.    Bogan, a coach for the past 11 years at Baltimore County Gymnastics in White Marsh, told federal agents that he became interested in child pornography during the 1980s and has been looking at it on the computer for the past five years, court documents show. He likened his interest in child pornography to stamp collecting, authorities said.
Related:
Baltimore Sun, MD:  Gymnastics coach held on child porn charges
WJZ, MD:  Gymnastics Instructor Faces Child Porn Charges (video included)

[March 3] 2007 Tyson American Cup Finals
 Men-Finals Results, click here ; Women-Final results, click here
Related: Quick Hits
Related: USA’s Johnson, Horton win 2007 Tyson American Cup

[March 2] 2007 Tyson American Cup - Qualifier Meet Results
WAG:...13. Andreea Grigore , ROM:  53.800 (WAG Results, click here)
MAG:...10. Flavius Koczi , ROM: 87.000 (MAG Results,click here)

[Feb 28 / March 1] Happy Birthday to Alexandra GHITA !
  Her Birthday is on Feb 29, but...

[Feb 28] Prince Charles slams the Big Mac
CatererSearch, UK
    Prince Charles slammed fast-food giant McDonald’s yesterday and seemed to call for a ban on the Big Mac. During a tour of the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Prince – a fervent supporter of organic food - asked a nutritionist whether they had “got anywhere with McDonalds?” 
Related: Mac Attack - Prince Charles Chews The Fat

[Feb 28] Historian's Dracula book gets him out of jail early
Seattle Times, WA
   IASI, Romania — A U.S. historian sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual perversion and abuse of minors won early release from prison Tuesday because he wrote a book about Dracula, his attorney said. Kurt W. Treptow, of Miami Beach, left the prison in the northeastern city of Iasi in his lawyer's car after serving less than five years.

[our note: Treptow also edited the -very expensive, $12,50/copy- Romanian Gymnastics Magazine-see cover photo left and also has launched the first version of RGF official website; see 1st version click here; last version,click here]

   He was sentenced to the maximum of seven years in December 2002 for offenses involving two girls, ages 10 and 13, whom he invited into his home in Iasi. A Romanian woman convicted of being his accomplice remains in prison.
   Treptow, who first studied in Romania as a Fulbright scholar during the communist regime that toppled in 1989, has written and edited numerous books on Romanian history, including one about Romania's pro-Hitler World War II dictator, Marshal Ion Antonescu, and another on Vlad Tepes, the historical model for Dracula. He also wrote "Romanian Gymnastics."
   Treptow moved to Romania in the 1990s and was director of the Center for Romanian Studies in Iasi. The center is housed in a building owned by the espionage service. The service has declined to say whether Treptow worked for it.

Related:
BBC News, UK:  Paedophile freed for Dracula book
Mediafax, Romania : Kurt Treptow In Panic Outside The Penitentiary
Associated Press:  Dracula book gets American early release

[Feb 28] Romanian coach banned for abusing gymnast
Guardian Unlimited, UK
  A Romanian coach has been banned for a year by his national federation for physically abusing a 15-year-old female gymnast, an official told Reuters on Tuesday.
  "The (Romanian Gymnastics Federation) FRG board banned coach Mihael Anton for 12 months after he was found to have verbally and physically attacked promising gymnast Emanuela Rusu," FRG president Adrian Stoica said. Stoica said footage captured on a mobile phone had proved that Anton swore at Rusu before striking her face several times during a training session in the western city of Timisoara.
Related:
Supersport, South Africa: Romanian coach banned for abuse
Reuters India, India: Romanian coach banned for abusing gymnast
Townsville Bulletin, Australia: Video traps violent coach
Namibian, Namibia: Coach banned for abuse

[Feb 27] The abusive coach Mihai Anton has been suspended by RGF
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Romanian Gymnastics Federation has announced that coach Mihai Anton from CSM Onesti has been suspended for one year from coaching.
TVR1 broadcasted again the video, click here and go to 1h03min

[Feb 26] Catalina Ponor, out of training for two weeks!
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Catalina Ponor has got scarlet fever and is out of training for two weeks, missing the coming European Championships , has announced Romanian ProTv station at late evening sport news, minutes ago.

[Feb 24] Andreea Grigore and Flavius Koczi at 2007 Tyson American Cup
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Andreea Grigore and Flavius Koczi will will compete for Romania in the 2007 Tyson American Cup at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The Tyson American Cup, held on March 3 at 11:30 a.m., features eight men and eight women, including two men and two women from the USA, in the all-around finals.

[Feb 23] ProTV will broadcast a video evidence with Timisoara abuses
  click to see a video evidence   [new link]
  Pro Tv Report, click here

[Feb 19] Emanuela Rusu, another revealed case of abuses in Romanian gymnastics
Bucharest, Prosport
 To see the original articles,   go to the Prosport site, clik on Special tab (top of page, rght) then look for these articles:
# A fost batuta si înfometata! ; Drama unei gimnaste; Numai prostii;! Sa aduca dovezi!; Cadouri contra blândete! ; Antrenorii de la Timisoara neaga toate acuzatiile
      TVR1 report ,click here (go to min 1h06min) -valid 1 week only!

[Feb 13] Andreea Raducan speaks about her life after gymnastics
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Former Romanian gymnast Andreea Raducan has spoken about her life after gymnastics, during a TV lifestyle program (available on web, click here).
      "After I quit gymnastics, I become overweight and I didn't followed any special diet, fitness program or something like that", says Andreea Raducan. "I think that after a while, my body has come back in shape-1 year and a half after ending my gym career- whithout doing much efforts. At this moment, I don't think I need to use any diet program, I feel good as I am. I do exercise to maintain a good tonus for the body and

[Feb 7] Forbes - NY,USA: Paul Hamm to Return to Gymnastics
   Olympic champion Paul Hamm has decided to return to competitive gymnastics, hoping for a less tumultuous path to the all-around title at the Beijing Olympics than the one he took in Athens.
   Hamm and his twin brother, Morgan, met last weekend with USA Gymnastics officials to confirm they both had decided to return. They plan to participate in a limited number of events in 2007 while they finish school and get back into competitive shape.

[Feb 6] Deva -The City of Gold- waterless!
romanian-gymnastics.com
  A major failure into the city of Deva water system has left the 65,000 people waterless until tomorrow! The local hospital will use the fire emergency reserve for most urgent needs, TV Antena1 said. Romanian gymnastics team will use bottles of mineral water , romanian gymnastics.com just heard.

[Feb 5] Sporting No. 10s: 10 Nadia Comaneci
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,Australia
   Think of the number 10 and you think perfection. Think of perfection in sport and instantly you think of Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Aged just 14, she was the darling of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. She won three golds, a silver and a bronze medal. In the uneven bars in the team competition she became the first gymnast in Olympic history to receive the perfect score of 10.0, a feat she would repeat six times over the course of the competition.

[Feb 5] Catalina Ponor and Loredana Boboc at World Class Gymnastics
Photo-story for romanian-gymnastics.com by: Andreea Luca / Hamilton, Canada
  We had Catalina Ponor and Loredana Boboc come at Cristina Bontas's World Class Gymnastics for a show, pictures and sign autographs.
  CH news from Hamilton came, the romanian press and also the Hamilton Spectator newspaper. The girls also had a visit from the Canadian Federation people.
  We took tons of pictures and videotapped the whole show. It seemed like the girls enjoyed themselves.   After the show, Cristina Bontas, her husband Gabi, and I (Andreea Luca) took them to see Niagara Falls and we also went for dinner. We had sooo much fun, and the girls are so funny and open minded about everything

[Feb 3] Romanian gymnastics Stars in TVR1 Show
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Top Romanian Gymnastics Stars- Nadia Comaneci, Andreea Raducan , Monica Rosu and former coaches Octavian Bellu and Mariana Bitang were the guests of TVR1 Show "Stele de 5 Stele" (Five Stars) last evening.
  To see the recorded 1 hour show, click here (available only until Feb 9).If you don't have Quiqtime and want to use Flashplayer, click here and look for "Vineri, Februarie 3" and the show name "Stele de 5 Stele".

[Feb 2] Aluissa Lacusteanu, Best Athlete of Hunedoara County
romanian-gymnastics.com
  Last evening Aluissa Lacusteanu got The Best Athlete of Hunedoara Award during the "Gala of Hunedoara's Sport" hosted by Deva Cultural Center.
  Local county Sport department named Aluissa Lacusteanu Hunedoara's County Best Athlete in 2006 for her results at European Championships (Silver with the Team, Gold at FX, Bronze at BB) and Nationals (Gold with the Team, Silver at vault, UB and BB, Bronze at AA.
   Loredana Sucar (WCh- 4 with the team; Nationals- Gold with the team, Bronze at FX) from the Romanian gymnastics team ranked the 3rd;  Cerasela   Patrascu ranked 4th, and Alexandra Ghita ranked 7.
   CSS Cetate Deva Gymnastics Club was named Best 2006 Club in Hunedoara County; Best Coach was named Liliana Cosma . To solve a local dispute among Olympic and non-Olympic sports, the County sport department has made two different rankings: Olympics sports and non-Olymics. Former coach Octavian Belu did not attended the ceremonies, despite having a VIP invitation; he seems to (still) have resentments on gymnastics. Giant fireworks ended the ceremony.

[Jan 31] Nadia Comaneci's mother will get married
romanian-gymnastics.com EXCLUSIVE
 Nadia Comaneci's mother, Mrs.Stefania Comaneci will get married soon, after a 3 years relationship with her fiancee, Mihai Nedelea. Last year they got engaged and they live together in Bucharest.
   The new comer in the "Perfect Ten's" family is well seen by everybody. Andrei Comaneci, Nadia Comaneci's Brother: "My mother's fiancee is a simple man with a good character; it doesn't matter his social status and what he did for a living (meaning he isn't a VIP) , but only the fact that he is making my Mom happy."
   The new couple-Mrs.Stefania Comaneci and fiancee Mihai Nedelea- made their fist public appearance at ROC's Gala dedicated to Nadia, Monday evening at Hilton Hotel in Bucharest.

[Jan 31] Former gymnastics star Andreea Raducan claims back Sydney medal
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Romanian gymnast Andreea Raducan has requested the International Olympic Committee to give her back the medal she won at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
   Andreea Raducan had her medal withdrawn because she was found to have used a then-illegal substance, pseudoephedrine, an ingredient of a simple cold pill. The substance was since removed from the list of drugs banned in sporting events.
   The Romanian Sports Olympics Committee is currently considering how to support Andreea Raducan’s attempt to get back the Olympic title she was stripped of in Sydney, years after the World Anti-doping Agency removed the substance from the banned list.
   
[Jan 31] Aluissa Lacusteanu, Best Athlete of Hunedoara County
romanian-gymnastics.com
 Aluissa Lacusteanu, member of Romanian National gymnastics Team, was named Hunedoara's County Best Athlete in 2006.
   On January 31, Aluissa Lacusteanu will get The Best Athlete of Hunedoara Award during the "Gala of Hunedoara's Sport" hosted by Deva Cultural Center.
  Local county Sport department named Aluissa Lacusteanu Hunedoara's County Best Athlete in 2006 for her results at European Championships (Silver with the Team, Gold at FX, Bronze at BB) and Nationals (Gold with the Team, Silver at vault, UB and BB, Bronze at AA.

[Jan 29] Nadia Comaneci offered 10 scholarships for CSS 2 gymnasts
romanian-gymnastics.com
   Bucharest – Nadia Comaneci and Niro Group on Monday offered 10 scholarships to gymnasts from School Sport Club 2 from Bucharest, Rompres reports.
   Nadia Comaneci became for three years the image of the group, within the partnership “We invest in people, we invest in the future,” which consists of social programmes destined to sportsmen and women, underprivileged, old people, poor and orphan children.
   The EUR 1,200 scholarships (EUR 100/month, for one year) were received by gymnasts Cristina Petcu, Raluca Nistor, Andreea Gheorghe, Cristina Tudose, Cristina Stefan, Mihaela Tone, Roberta Butuc, Andreea Codrat, Florina Dan and Georgiana Sulugiuc.
    Nadia Comaneci said she came with excitement at the club that she knows very well. She also talked about her partnership with Niro. “The gymnastics team from CSS 2 proved good results through seriousness and perseverance. I am glad companies from Romania think at sport in general, and at gymnastics particularly,” Nadia Comaneci asserted.  

Romanian Gymnastics News Archive.

Contests:
 A Gymnastics Fan at World Gymnastics Championships
  Romanian Gymnastics Fan Postcard from Aarhus
  Romanian Gymnastics at World Championships
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Romanian gymnastics Fans comments:
   Fans Greetings for Romanian gymnastics Team at Worlds
   Gymnastics fans comments over (stupid) Belgian/SID article
   Belu's (stupid) remark on girls, hard criticized by gym fans
   fans comments over (stupid) Sunday Mirror article      

  Feature stories
  Post card from Deva: Romanian Gymnastics Team
  Maria Olaru about how to become and remain a winner
  Toyota cars for Belu and Bitang
  Gymnastics hall opened at Izvorani
  Romanian gymnastics team, having fun on April 1st Fools Day

  romanian-gymnastics.com Projects:
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  Perfect Ten Broadcast into Space
  Nadia on TVR1 Greatest Romanians-
  World Gymnastics Day
  Lavinia Milosovici returns from treatment at Beijing Clinic
  Romanian Gymnastics Stars, having "their own" Stars