Catalina Ponor, the 2004 Athens Olympic Champion, gives us a lesson of will and strength in everything she does. At an age when many gymnasts are giving up the sport, Catalina, 24, decided to come out of retirement and reconfirm her position in elite gymnastics.

After a 4 year break, a coaching experience in the US and having taken in the possibility of failure, the gymnast is now part of the Romanian Olympic team, preparing for London.

- Every story starts with “once upon a time”. If you had the possibility to choose, how would you like to start the Catalina Ponor story?

- My story would probably begin with “Once upon a time there was a restless child who would not be still.” (laughs)

- And how would it end?

- With “and that child we were previously talking about managed to surpass any problem and obstacle and is now a fulfilled woman.”

- After having spent most of your life in a fast paced environment, what was the first “forbidden” thing you did after retiring?

- Had lots of sweets (laughs childishly), then I tried a bit of everything to see how real life is. You know, I sometimes wanted to face a problem by myself and learn to be strong because I feel that you cannot learn from mistakes until you actually are faced with those situations.

- Gymnastics starts early and ends early. What is the main difficulty of still being in this sport at 24?

- Yes, it is true gymnastics is a hard sport which starts and ends early, but this depends on each person´s decision. I can honestly say I regret having retired at 20. I missed being in the gym, training and the competition halls with thousands of people. It´s not difficult for me to be in gymnastics at 24. I badly wanted to come back and I made it, even if 24 seems too much. On the other hand, I think gymnastics has started growing in age too. There are many gymnastics of more than 22 and 24.

- What was the hardest thing you had to go through after the 4 year break?

- Getting in shape. An active sportsman is fit and I did not even move a finger all these years. This was the hardest part of the comeback.

- I will not ask why you retired, I will only ask why you came back.

- Because I wanted to show the world that Catalina Ponor, who was not credited with any chance to make a comeback, had a lot to say in gymnastics. Anything is possible when you really want something.

- Was it a bet with yourself or with the people around you?

- I will not make a bet with the ones around me as long as I know what I am capable of. I am an ambitious, stubborn and strong person and I can get through anything. If anything, this is a bet with me, to prove to myself yet again that this is possible.

- Did Bellu and Bitang talk you into coming back?

- I´d like everyone to know that what was said about having been asked by the coaches to come back to gymnastics is only part of the story. Yes, we joked about it once when I was in the US but I didn´t take it seriously and neither did they. I had no idea back then that 2012 would find me in the gym, training.

- Do you think they supported you because of what you had done in gymnastics or for what you could still do?

- They (the two coaches) have always trusted me; they knew I was a strong gymnast as they had trained me since 2002. Maybe they didn´t trust I would actually make it but I really wanted to show everyone that when you really want something you can do it.

The chat with Catalina Ponor unveiled a strong, ambitious, realistic gymnast, ready to face any obstacle.

The figures in the 24 year old´s life: 16 years of training, 5 years in competition, a 4 year break, 3 Olympic gold medals, 5 European gold medals, many silver and bronze medals and a comeback dream.

When she took the decision to retire in 2007, Catalina Ponor missed her chance to get to her second Olympics, in Beijing. Maybe this is one of the reasons why she is giving it her all in the months left till the London Games.

In the last part of the interview, Catalina discusses her expectations and disappointments, the sacrifices she´s willing to make and denies the news that she will end her career at the Olympics.

- After such a number of medals won, did you ever tell yourself “now that my name is noted down in the book of the greatest sportsmen, what comes next is not important”?

- Never! After having won the 3 Olympic medals I had even greater expectations, I did not want to make a fool of myself.

- How does a champion react to not winning a gold medal?

- I cried till dawn for every single silver or bronze medal

- Was your decision based on this year´s London Games and on your desire to end your career on a high note?

- It was 100% based on these Olympics. No matter what will happen, nothing will keep me from getting to my second Games. And why not, with God´s help, maybe even win a medal, even if it´s silver or bronze.

Then Catalina laughed and asked me: “Who said I would retire after the Olympics?”

- I know you left for Athens thinking about bringing home the gold. What are you expecting from London?

- Of course I also want gold this time around, but considering the break, the age and other factors, I will be happy with making the podium. Let´s allow the young ones to win some gold medals as well. What I am interested in is to win gold with the team and I think that we are slowly getting there.

- Regardless of the Olympic results, you are still a name in the elite of Romanian gymnastics. Is there anything you don´t want from this competition?

- Injury. Anything, but not that. If I get injured, I swear I will grab my hand or my foot with my teeth and I will compete like that.

- What is next for Catalina Ponor, beyond the Olympics?

- There is nothing planned for now. I honestly see myself in the gym in the next 7-8 months.

- Let´s imagine the following. August 13, 2012. The London Olympics are over. What title would you have me give your effort?

- “History repeats itself!”

- After having given some big names in the sport, having dominated, how do you see the future of Romanian gymnastics?

- I´m hopeful. I hope time will prove I am also right.

- There are fewer kids doing this sport, the infrastructure is poor, what would make you leave the country to train a foreign team?

- Anything from money to accommodation to respect.

- After so many hours of training, focusing just on this activity, what does a 24 year old do? Does she still have time for something else?

- The truth is I don´t have time considering that I am in the gym and in my room 24 hours a day. Sunday is a free day. There´s not much to do in my room except listen to music, watch TV, read a book or clean.

- Are there any professional regrets?

- Not having won the World Championship, but maybe it was meant to be like this, I´ve got used to it. God arranges things the way he wants and I have to thank him for giving me the talent. A talent I managed to take advantage of every single day….

- If I asked you to say a few words on Covasna, what would you say?

- I would have wanted to come visit. Unfortunately, I haven´t managed to see a large part of Romania due to the lack of time.

Source: 1 & 2

RGF

Related posts:

1. Catalina Ponor: “You can live well off gymnastics” @ Wall-Street
2. Sandra Izbasa and Catalina Ponor - ready for Worlds, part2
3. Catalina Ponor is officially back - “I want to be in the history books”

She has experienced all possible emotions from the joy of the Olympic, World and European medals to the disappointment of failures and injuries but she is still anxious for the London Olympic Games. She is Sandra Izbasa, 22 in June, who has been in gymnastics for 18 years now and still finds motivation to keep going.

(Sandra Izbasa @ 2011 Europeans -(c) Aurelia)

- Sandra, are you healthy now? What was the problem with your foot after all?
- I am fine now. The doctors didn´t know why the hematoma kept appearing either. In the end they said it was the strain, nothing to do with the 2009 surgery. After I had surgery again, it disappeared.

- You had to have surgery again?
- Yes, around September - October, on the left foot´s Achilles and the right leg. I am strictly following a program now and I hope everything will go well. With only 6 months to go till the Olympics I will hang on till the end. I am careful not to push it too much and we all hope everything will be ok.

- So, when did you go back to full capacity training?
- In December I started to follow the normal program again.

- Anything new in your routines? Where are you with the difficulty?
- Everything is new. Adding difficulty and working on the execution is normal if we want to do well in the next competitions. I won´t tell anything else because we want this to be a surprise.

- Have you started training bars as well? Do you see yourself in the all-around?
- My palms hurt, I just moisturize at night and I start again the next day. For the all-around, it all depends on how they will want to approach this.

- How´s beam going?
- I´m training to help the team. I am fighting for every apparatus.

- Do you already have the floor music?
- We are struggling to pick it for some time. It´s very difficult, everything must be perfect for the Olympics. It´s like with the clothes, you feel different when they are clean.

- The European Championships are next, it would be nice to repeat the 2008 success when you won 2 gold medals and became Olympic Champion.
- I will be at the Europeans if I am healthy. And maybe the Olympics will work out even better than in 2008, I always want to improve on that.

- That means you want a shinier medal with the team and more gold medals in the individual finals…
- The team will probably have to be sacrificed but I do hope to improve in the finals.

“With patience you go a long way”

- Did it frustrate you to have won 2 gold medals at the Europeans and then not be at the 2011 Worlds?
- Of course it was hard, especially since I had improved a lot. But I was patient and told myself the Olympics are more important. I had gone though this before in 2009. I have nearly won it all, so it´s balanced. You have a World Championship every year, but you go to the Olympics once every 4.

- Where do you find the strength to keep going after all the injuries?
- I´ve learned this from my father: “With patience you go a long way.” I proved to myself once again how strong I am. I was not credited with a chance to make a comeback in 2009. Back then I went back to the gym but I didn´t take things seriously until Mr. Bellu and Mrs. Bitang returned to the team and told me I had potential.

- What about fear? Does it stay with you after such an injury?
- The mental pain was bigger than the physical one. There is always fear, it won´t go away but I am my own psychologist. It´s impossible for an injury like this not to leave scars.

- Why couldn´t Ana Porgras fight through it for 6 more months?
- I don´t know if I should comment on this subject. What I do know is that everyone tried to talk her into staying, we all did. They made her the most beautiful montages. I´m sorry she wasn´t motivated enough to stay.

- What motivates Sandra Izbasa, the Olympic and European champion, at this point?
- I don´t even know anymore. I think I am still doing gymnastics for those around me, for the people I love.

- And they are…
- Oh, etc. etc. and so on.

- Then what does Sandra Izbasa dream about?
- When I close my eyes I see the moment after the Olympics. I cannot wait, I dream everything will be perfect. I dream of the moments after.

Source: GSP

RGF

Related posts:

1. “I want to be first, to win gold with the team” - Sandra Izbasa @ Prosport Interview
2. Sandra Izbasa - Prosport Interview
3. Octavian Bellu: “We don’t want to take any risk with Izbasa”

Rezultatele de astazi:

Concursul va continua maine cu exercitiile la maciuci si panglica. Sa-i tinem pumnii Alexandrei si sa avem incredere ca ea se va califica la Olimpiada. Pana atunci va invit sa vedeti exercitiul ei de azi, de la cerc:

Related posts:

1. Alexandra Piscupescu - locul 17 la Mondialele de gimnastica ritmica
2. Campionatele Europene de gimnastica ritmica – Bremen 2010
3. Trofeul Irina Deleanu 2009 - succes pentru Romania

An interview with Ana Porgras about her retirement, via Prosport:

Prosport: Ana, how are you?

Ana: I’m fine, at home with my sister.

Prosport: With or without gymnastics?

Ana: Without. I retired from gymnastics.

Prosport: Why did you make this decision?

Ana: I had my reasons and I would like not to speak about them. But I reached one point where I felt I couldn’t do it anymore. There were many injuries, I was feeling tired. And after the last elbow injury from December I realized I can’t do it anymore.

Prosport: There was no info about the elbow injury…

Ana: At the beginning of December I was training on vault and while I was performing a round-off my hand just snapped. I went to the doctor and he told me it’s a left elbow fracture. I had to use a cast..

Prosport: Were you already thinking about retiring?

Ana: Yes, but I was not 100% decided. The doctor said I could train, but my hand was still hurting. After we came back from France I realized I could not go on anymore.

Prosport: Your sister and your mum…what are they saying?

Ana: Everybody talked with me and tried to make me change my mind. Even Mr. Stoica and Mrs. Grigoras talked with me, but my decision is final.

Prosport:How is life without gymnastics?

Ana: I don’t know yet. At the moment I’m ok, I started school here in Barlad, where I live with my sister.

Prosport:Don’t you feel sorry about the decision?

Ana: No, I don’t regret I retired. Life goes on.

Prosport:But there were other comebacks….

Ana: From the moment I made this decision there is no turning back. I said stop and I’m not coming back.

Related posts:

1. Quote of the day - Ana Porgras
2. Ana Porgras: “I will focus on beam and bars to help the team”
3. Ana Porgras - “If you cannot get on that podium for Romania, you are missing something…” @ The Medal Factory Ep.13

There´s snow and sun. And there has been snow and sun since Tuesday at the National Sports Complex in Piatra Arsa, in the Bucegi mountains. “Only the rainbow is missing!” says one of the employees.

- Where do the snow flakes come from when the sky is blue?
- I think the window blowing up there brings them, someone explains….

You can see the clouds in the distance, white and puffy. One of them lost his way over here. The only colors lost in the white of Piatra Arsa are the gymnasts. The Men´s National team, who is training up here, begin their day early in the morning. With -5 degrees Celsius, the 9 gymnasts begin running on the slopes around the Complex dressed in their running gear, but wearing 3 more t-shits underneath.

For one whole hour, they go up and down one after another on the route to Sinaia - 2000m. The first going up is Andrei Munteanu, the youngest member of the group. No one complains. The 2011 European Champion on Floor, Flavius Koczi takes the lead going down. Ioan Suciu, the coordinator of the team, takes the gymnasts to the stadium. Snow and rusty doors. The perfect place for a football match.

Koczi feels as comfortable on the field as on the floor. His coach, Marius Urzica is unsuccessful in his attempt to take the ball away from Flavius, who stubbornly holds onto it. It all ends with a fight in the snow where Razvan Spirescu, the group´s masseur, suffers the most. He will “take care” of them in the massage session.

The road to the hotel seems long and they are tired. After having lunch, they rest for two hours and meet again in the gym. They start to prepare the training and move on to the apparatus, pommel horse and parallel bars. 30 minutes later they move on to the gym where they climb the ropes as well as Spiderman himself and do series of 10 minutes each. After a 2 minute break, they start all over. In the same silent way they did before, but this time sweat shows all over their bodies and the effort all over their faces…

Training ends with sauna and the swimming pool, followed by shower and dinner. At 8pm, Koczi, Bataga, Berbecar, Bucur, Buidoso, the two Muntean, Cotuna and Ursache come together to read a book and watch TV. “We´re in the last phase of the training for the London Games. Training in the mountains is a first stage in the preparation. We´ll have the first competition in March, at the World Cup and the European Championships in April. But our goal is the Olympics.” Ioan Suciu explained. Marius Urzica, the Sydney Olympic Champion on pommel horse, talked about the gymnasts: “They are a very disciplined generation. Very nice guys.”

The gymnasts are set to go back to Bucharest on Saturday, if the weather will allow them to. They will have just ended their first stage in their road to London. The easiest one!

“I don´t like the mountains at all. I don´t like snow, I don´t like getting wet, I don´t like the cold. I´m not even into skying. I like it better at home, in Bucharest.” (Flavius Koczi)

Dragulescu is missing
Marian Dragulescu, the most successful gymnast in the team, did not make the trip to Piatra Ars?. He is still recovering after the ankle surgery he had to go through after the World Championship injury. “He went to Viena to check it and everything is ok. He had to protect the previously injured foot so he put too much pressure on his other foot. He is taking care of that now and we hope he will be able to start training in February.” said Ioan Suciu.

The gymnasts present at Piatra Arsa: Flavius Koczi, Cristian Bataga, Marius Berbecar, Adrian Bucur, Ovidiu Buidoso, Andrei Muntean, Vasile Muntean, Andrei Ursache and Vlad Cotuna.

RGF

Related posts:

1. Marius Urzica - the new head-coach of the Romanian MAG team?
2. Romanian Men Team - 8th at Japan Cup 2010
3. “I want to form a real team”

Colega noastra, Cristina, a compus o varianta personalizata a plugusorului pentru a face cateva urari pentru anul 2012:

Aho, aho, gimnaste si gimnasti,
Si fanilor din lumea intreaga,

Sa ne dea Dumnezeu de toate,
Un an bun cu sanatate,
Si medalii cat se poate!!!

Si sa ne mai dea acuma,
Si ambitie, bat-o vina,
Ca sa-i aratam lui Grandi,
Ca tot ne luptam cu granzii.

Iar la sfarsit de an,
Sa zicem ca amu’ cativa ani,
“Rau o fost!!!” - aur si argint,
Bronz si-arbitrii ne-au ocolit.

Dup’ atatea ghinioane,
Tineti minte ca la Londra,
La ce echipa mai are,
Romania-i cea mai tare!

Urati, mai, flacai!!!
Hai, hai!!!

Related posts:

1. La multi ani, Ana Porgras & Marian Dragulescu!
2. La multi ani, 2010!!!
3. Gala Gimnasticii Romanesti - 2011

Pentru acest final de an, am pus mana de la mana cu toti cei implicati in mediul online al acestui sport si am organizat o gala virtuala a gimnasticii romanesti. Cinci reprezentanti online media au participat la aceasta gala, iar acestia sunt: GymnasticsNoCeiling, GymFever, Romanian Gymnastics Fans, revista TARE si nu in ultimul rand blogul Fangymnastics! In ultima saptamana am stat la discutii, am nominalizat, am centralizat si am votat pana cand am reusit sa ajungem la o varianta finala.

Astfel, din punctul nostru de vedere, premiantii Galei Gimnasticii Romanesti, editia 2011, sunt urmatorii:

FEMININ

Cea mai completa gimnasta a anului 2011:

1. Larisa Iordache;
2. Ana Porgras;
3. Amelia Racea;

Cea mai buna gimnasta la sarituri in 2011:

1. Sandra Izbasa;
2. Larisa Iordache;
3. Catalina Ponor;

Cea mai buna gimnasta la paralele in 2011:

1. Larisa Iordache;
2. Ana Porgras;
3. Amelia Racea;

Cea mai buna gimnasta la barna in 2011:

1. Larisa Iordache;
2. Ana Porgras;
3. Catalina Ponor;

Cea mai buna gimnasta la sol in 2011:

1. Sandra Izbasa;
2. Diana Bulimar;
3. Diana Chelaru;

Cea mai constanta gimnasta in 2011:

1. Larisa Iordache;
2. Diana Chelaru;
3. Amelia Racea;

Revelatia anului 2011:

1. Catalina Ponor;
2. Diana Bulimar;
3. Laura Jurca;

Exercitiul anului 2011 in gimnastica feminina:

1. Sandra Izbasa - sariturile din finala europeana pe aparat;
2. Larisa Iordache - barna de la Festivalul Olimpic al Tineretului European;
3. Catalina Ponor - solul din finala mondiala pe echipe;

Antrenorul anului 2011 in gimnastica feminina:

1. Adela Popa;
2. Octavian Bellu;
3. Cristi Moldovan;

Cea mai buna junioara de la lotul national:

1. Bianca Ciobanu;
2. Stefania Stanila;
3. Andreea Munteanu;

Cea mai buna tanara speranta:

1. Laura Jurca;
2. Madalina Blendea;
3. Adela Florea;

Cea mai buna gimnasta straina in 2011:

1. Viktoria Komova (RUS);
2. Yao Jinnan (CHN);
3. McKayla Maroney (USA);

Cea mai fair-play gimnasta a anului 2011:

1. Diana Chelaru;
2. Diana Bulimar;
3. Ana Porgras;

MASCULIN

Cel mai complet gimnast al anului 2011:

1. Flavius Koczi;
2. Marian Dragulescu;

Cel mai bun gimnast la sol in 2011:

1. Flavius Koczi;
2. Marian Dragulescu;
3. Vlad Cotuna;

Cel mai bun gimnast la cal cu manere in 2011:

1. Flavius Koczi;
2. Costin Manolache;

Cel mai bun gimnast la inele in 2011:

1. Cristian Bataga;
2. Adrian Bucur;
3. Flavius Koczi;

Cel mai bun gimnast la sarituri in 2011:

1. Marian Dragulescu;
2. Flavius Koczi;

Cel mai bun gimnast la paralele in 2011:

1. Marius Berbecar;

Cel mai bun gimnast la bara fixa in 2011:

1. Vlad Cotuna;
2. Flavius Koczi;

Revelatia anului 2011 in gimnastica masculina:

1. Marius Berbecar;
2. Daniel Radeanu;
3. Flavius Koczi;

Exercitiul anului 2011 in gimnastica masculina:

1. Flavius Koczi - solul din finala europeana pe aparat;
2. Marius Berbecar - paralelul de la Mondiale;
3. Marian Dragulescu - solul din concursul mondial de calificare;

Antrenorul anului 2011 in gimnastica masculina:

1. Marius Urzica;
2. Stefan Gal;
3. Adrian Meleanca;

Cel mai bun junior de la lotul national:

1. Daniel Radeanu;
2. Andrei Groza;
3. Raul Paraschivu;

Cea mai buna tanara speranta a anului 2011 in gimnastica masculina

1. Componentii clubului de gimnastics CSS Lugoj;

Cel mai fair-play gimnast in 2011:

1. Marian Dragulescu;
2. Flavius Koczi;

Cel mai bun gimnast strain in 2011:

1. Kohei Uchimura (JPN);
2. Phillip Boy (GER);
3. Thomas Bouhail (FRA);

AEROBICA SI RITMICA

Cel mai bun sportiv de aerobica in 2011:

1. Corina Constantin;
2. Valentin Mavrodineanu;
3. Maria Luisa Pavel;

Cea mai buna gimnasta de ritmica in 2011:

1. Alexandra Piscupescu;

ALTE PREMII

Cel mai bun comentariu TV al anului 2011:

1. TVR (Alina Alexoi & Ramona Micu);
2. BBC (Christine Still & Mitch Fenner);
3. DigiSport (Cristian Topescu si invitatii);

Cea mai buna emisiune de gimnastica in 2011:

• Fabrica de medalii (DigiSport TV);

Best Live Coverage (cea mai buna transmisiune in timp real, de la fata locului):

• Blythe (Gymnastics Examiner) & Brigid (The Couch Gymnast) & Anne (Gymnastike) @ CM 2011;

Articolele anului 2011 in gimnastica romaneasca:

• Interviu cu micile gimnaste de la Deva (Tare #2);
• Trista poveste a veselei gimnaste (Prosport);
• Povestea echipei care a cucerit prima medalie olimpica din istoria gimnasticii romanesti (Adevarul);
• The Story of Larisa Iordache (GymNoCeiling);

Evenimentul sportiv al anului 2011:

• Campionatul European de gimnastica aerobica de la Bucuresti;

Premiul special - Fangymnastics:

• Ana Porgras - pentru felul in care s-a mobilizat in finala mondiala pe echipe, unde a demonstrat ca poate sa treaca peste un esec si ca tot ceea ce s-a intamplat in calificari a fost doar un accident.

Related posts:

1. Gala premiilor Fangymnastics - editia 2008
2. 2010 Romanian Nationals: The champions from EF are…..
3. Elena Leusteanu – Prima Doamna a gimnasticii romanesti

1. incurajare specifica gimnasticii artistice din Romania, utilizata atat de gimnasti/antrenori, cat si de suporteri.
2. numele primei reviste online dedicata fanilor gimnasticii din Romania;

Revista noastra preferata, revista TARE, a ajuns deja la cel de-al treilea numar. Daca ne urmariti pe pagina noastra de Facebook sau pe Twitter, atunci cred ca ati aflat deja de lansarea celui mai recent numar, care a avut loc chiar in noaptea  Ajunului de Craciun.

TARE progreseaza de la numar la numar, articolele cresc din punct de vedere calitativ si parca totul arata din ce in ce mai bine. Fara indoiala materialul meu preferat este reprezentat de interviul cu Alina Alexoi si Ramona Micu (pag. 45).  Pe cele doua le-am ascultat cu sufletul la gura pe timpul Campionatelor Europene de la Berlin, iar acum avem posibilitatea sa citim un interviu foarte bine gandit si structurat. De asemenea, la capitolul recomandari ar mai fi si interviul cu si despre fanii gimnasticii romanesti (pag. 77), unde si echipa Fangymnastics are cateva interventii. Nu va spun mai multe, ci va las sa descoperiti singuri.

Si nu in ultimul rand va recomand materialul despre Festivalul Olimpic al Tineretului European, concurs prezentat sub forma unui jurnal scris de catre Andrei (pag. 115). Un articol scris din suflet care transmite foarte mult. O adevarata placere sa citesti asemenea materiale. Mai vrem!!!

Voua ce articole v-au placut?

Revista poate fi citita online aici.

Related posts:

1. Revista TARE - numarul 2 (interviu)
2. Revista TARE - teaser numarul 3
3. Revista “Tare” - interviu de lansare

Fara alte comentarii, va invit sa urmariti inregistrarile cu gimnastica artistica din cadrul Galei Sportului Romanesc! (multumim Anicia)

Related posts:

1. Ultimele noutati din gimnastica romaneasca
2. Amintiri cu si despre gimnastica romaneasca…
3. Gala Gimnasticii Romanesti - 2011

Presedintele clubului din Dijon a afirmat pentru site-ul francez Bienpublic ca “este ca si cum l-am avea Usain Bolt in sala de sport“, referindu-se bineinteles la gimnastele noastre.

Gimnastele se vor intoarce in tara pe data de 28 decembrie, urmand sa petreaca Revelionul la Izvorani.

Sursa

Related posts:

1. Gimnastele in cantonament la Izvorani
2. Cantonament de pregatire in Marea Britanie (18 - 22 martie)
3. Intalnire amicala Franta/Romania/Marea Britanie