april-may08

31 May 2008

First big test for the girls

For the competition in Constanta that will start today at 17.30, Forminte has brought the following girls to compete there: Sandra Izbasa, Steliana Nistor, Gabriela Dragoi, Anamaria Tamarjan, Daniela Druncea, Andreea Acatrinei and Andreea Grigore. He will decide which girl is going to be dropped after the last training session.
For Prosport, Nicolae Forminte explains that it's a test competition to see if things are going in the right direction for the Olympics and it's also a way to help the girls to adapt to any kind of competition hall and different apparatus as having that experience, is a big advantage.
Another name that could be added to the future Romanian team is that of Madalina Gutu and Forminte hopes that she could be a possible plan B but he adds that there's little time left for her to gain sureness in her routines.
About Aluissa Lacusteanu, who is still recovering after her knee operation, he says that she has a very slim chance of making the team for the Olympics even though she is performing the basic elements on all 4 apparatus, she needs more time to present secure and valuable routines. Things however are going well with her recovery but they don't want to risk anything or force her.
Alina Stanculescu, who was also recovering from a long term injury and did compete in a few competitions lately, isn't considered a contender for Beijing either as Forminte doesn't think she has managed to improve enough.
Cerasela Patrascu, who sustained a knee injury at Europeans and was operated on the meniscus of her right knee, is recovering well and has started running. Forminte is hopefull that she will come back and will be able to go to Beijing but the problem is that it's not enough for her to only recover for one apparatus as the team competition is the most important one for them. If she
can do a routine on bars, including the dismount, that will mean that she will be able to do beam and vault. He then adds that he can only hope that she has the strength to come back.

30 May 2008

Sandra: 'I want Olympic gold on floor!'

After going through a difficult time in 2007, in which Sandra Izbasa was injured, this year has had a good start for her, with success at the European Championships in France, where she won gold with the team, gold on floor and silver on beam.
Prosport had a chat with Sandra and she said she's feeling well. She's working hard during the training and she doesn't have any health problems and hopes it will stay this way.
She then reveals that winning the gold on floor during Europeans meant a lot as she would like to win the Olympic gold on floor and this European medal was a start and that it shows that the injuries kept her from the results that she wished for last year.
About the team gold she said that it makes her happy that they managed to field a team that was successful in the new formula.
She would like to improve on all 4 apparatus because she wants to compete in the individual competition in Beijing. She relies most of all on floor and beam. On bars and vault she would like to perform more competitive routines and she's working hard to be able to do so.
The pressure is on because in Beijing they will be competing against other countries too, not just the European ones and they have to give 3 to 4 times more than at Europeans as they don't want to disappoint anyone.
About winning gold on floor in Volos in 2006 and now in 2008 she says that it is different now as she's grown up, she's more mature and the elements are a little different as every human being develops and grows. Moreover, she loves her new floor routine and feels every note when she performs it.
At the Olympics she would like to get on the highest rostrum possible with the team and after that to win as many medals as possible. Personally she would like a gold medal on floor and a medal in the all-around.

There is going to be a competition in Constanta this weekend against the British team, but there will also be gymnasts from various other countries competing.
On Saturday the 31st, it will start at 17.30. It will be an important test on the road to Beijing to see where the girls are standing after Europeans.

18 May 2008

Adriana Tamarjan forced to retire

It has been an amazing story for so long. Twins Anamaria and Adriana, born on the 8th of May 1991, who started gymnastics at Petrolul Ploiesti at the age of 5, were both selected for the National team and would have probably made history had they been selected to represent Romania in the same team. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. Adriana has struggled with a back injury for over a year and had to retire.
You could say that gymnastics has brought the Tamarjan family happiness but also sadness because while Anamaria was very successful at the recent European Championships in France, Adriana struggled with her spine injury. Both girls have trained together for 12 years now and it will be difficult for Anamaria to continue on her own, without the support of her sister.
For Prosport, Gheorghe Tamarjan, the girl's father, explains: 'They told us that she has problems with her spine and she would risk a lot if she would continue. She couldn't do anything about it. She's at home now and it's very difficult for her.'
In Deva, Anamaria is training alongside her teammates and said: 'What has happened to my sister hasn't discouraged me, in the contrary, I need to be strong and fight for the both of us. I have
to get even better results for her so that she is proud of me. I do miss our talks and training together though.'

2 May 2008

Steliana featured on IG cover

Steliana is featured on the cover of International Gymnast this month with a beautiful photo.
There is also a report about the European Championships in this issue

which you can read in the digital online version too. On their site, go to IG Digital and follow the instructions on the screen. (click on the thumbnail for the bigger version)

1 May 2008

Sandra Izbasa: 'I think that we can finish first at the Olympics'

When Sandra came back from the European Championships held in France, where Romania won gold with the team, she said that she thought they could win a gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing but it will be a much more difficult competition.
For Online Sport she said: 'At the Olympics it will be much more difficult than at Europeans because there will be more teams and all will strive for Olympic gold. If we can keep up the work and if we will be healthy, I think that we can finish first.'
Sandra stated that she and her teammates will not rest on their laurels after the success in France. 'It was difficult enough, most of all in the finals, because Russia re-assembled themselves and it wasn't like that in qualifications. I can say that we gave everything. It's more difficult at a World Championship, for example, when China and America are there too. Of course we won't rest now, on the contrary, will will give it even more. We need to prove who we are and that we put
a lot of effort into our work. The training for the Olympics will start tomorrow (when they came back from France) because there's only 4 months left until the competition. We have celebrated the victory quietly. After the Olympics, we will be able to celebrate this victory.'
The European floor Champion said that she didn't expect to be invited by president Traian Basescu. 'We will show him the medals, we will greet him and it makes me happy to get to know him personally,' said Sandra.

Coach Nicolae Forminte thinks that the success at Europeans, will encourage the gymnasts for the Olympics. 'The girls will start training tomorrow evening (8th of April), a lot more eagerly I hope and with a lot more certainty that they can perform (get results). I don't have time for emotions, I have to control their emotions, not mine. I'm happy for the girls that they have managed this performance because now they have tasted how it feels to win gold and they loved it and want more next time.'
Asked what his opinion was about the statement of Nadia Comaneci that the Romanian team will be on the podium in Beijing for sure, Forminte said: 'I can say that I love Nadia and I have a lot
of respect for her and I do not want to begin to contradict her.'
He then added that he has been waiting a long time for this success but he didn't need it to demonstrate his qualities as coach. 'I have waited for this moment for a really long time for the simple fact that it should have been our in Volos, two years ago, when because of an error, we have lost the gold. We have had to grit our teeth for two years to show that things are completely different, as you have seen in France. I have established myself in Sabae in 1995. I have been part of a lot of success in Romanian gymnastics and I think that I have passed all exams.'
Forminte then continues to affirm that he doesn't have to demonstrate anything to the people who are against him and that he doesn't expect to be loved by everybody. 'From what I know, I haven't been disputed by the Federation and in the end, not even Jezus was loved by every one, so I can not have the pretention to be loved by the entire world. Everybody has his opinion and
is free to express it. I do not have such an ambition to have to demonstrate something to someone, I know I have to do a job, I have the moral responsibility to those who have put me in this job and in the first place, to the girls I work with and their parents who have given their children in our care, a technical collective.'

Nicolae Forminte also explained that 'the appreciation of the judges on bars, have determined the failure on beam' of Steliana Nistor. 'I hope that she will get over this. If Steliana wants something really badly, it's a gold medal on bars and she was probably really affected that she was so close to this medal yet again,' stated Forminte.

In her turn, Steliana Nistor said that she didn't fall off beam because of nerves but she couldn't explain what had happened. 'It was a competition like any other, a little bit more difficult than usual, but the moment you start and you control your emotions and with the experience you have, you get through it all. I had some emotions on beam but I didn't fall off because of that. I don't know what it was, it just happened, but I do not stop here, I'll continue. It's been the second time that I miss a gold medal on bars. It's happened but I hope that in the future it won't happen again. I don't know how it will be like at the Olympics because I have never been at one. It's probably similar to a World Championships, a battle between all teams. From what I know about the other countries, I can say that if we work harder and we will be more ambitious, we
will get onto the rostrum at the Olympics too.'

Cerasela Patrascu declared that she regrets getting injured so she couldn't compete in the team final: 'It was a really good feeling to get this medal but it would have been even better if I had been part of the team. The accident has affected me a lot but I'm ok now, I'll get through it. The girls have supported me, they told me to not give up, that I'm only 15 years old and I should continue gymnastics.'

Anamaria Tamarjan stated that she wasn't surprised that she got onto the rostrum in the floor final. 'I felt really good because I won a gold with the team and a bronze on floor. If I worked well, like I have done, I could expect to be on the rostrum. At the Olympics it will be more difficult, we need to work much more but we'll succeed. I was a bit nervous but you need to control it to get where you want to get,' said Tamarjan who's parents were waiting for her at the airport.

The gymnasts were greeted by their parents and representatives of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation and various dignitaries in the Official Airport Lounge where they received flowers and had their photos taken and would meet the president the next day.

25 April 2008

Cerasela is fighting against time

Operated on the meniscus on her right knee, Cerasela wishes to be able to make the team for the Olympics but her biggest opponent is time.
She has gone back to Deva where she is following the doctor's advice. For Prosport, Nicolae Forminte explained that the doctor told them that she has 50% chance of recovering for Beijing. She's very responsive to the program that they have given her.
Even though she's still in pain, Cerasela is fighting with herself to fulfil her dream to be able to compete at the Olympics. Cerasela: 'I have started to recover, I'm working on different groups of muscles and a little for mobility. I only have one thought, to get to the Olympics. I need to make the team. I need to manage to do this, I have to fight.'

The other girls, however, are struggling with the flu, except for Steliana Nistor. Forminte explained that if one gets over the flu symptoms, the next one has to go to bed so the training is light at the moment. The illness started with the girls when they came back from France and then moved on to the coaches so everybody has been affected.
Steliana on not being ill: 'Everything comes from ambition. From the time I was little I was taught not to stay in bed when I had a cold. I feel fine now and I don't have a lot of illnesses. I try and get everything out of myself the best I can.'

22 April 2008

Steliana awarded for her medals

Steliana was awarded for her medals won at Europeans in her home town Sibiu on Tuesday the 15th, where she received a laptop, money and a diploma of excellence, reports Gazeta Sporturilor.
Steliana, who was accompanied by her mother, thanked the authorities and looked ahead to the next competition for which she is training, the Olympics in Beijing.
Steliana: 'My goal is a place with the team and a place individually. I would love it to be bars and beam, but we'll see.'
After spending two hours together with her family in Sibiu, Stela left for Deva for training.

In the meantime, everybody is getting back to business after the success at the European Championships as there's no time to lose. Nicolae Forminte explains for Prosport that the team spirit is really good and that everybody seems more motivated, which will be seen back in the future results and he's noticed a lot of determination with the girls who didn't make the team and who are fighting for their chance like Dana Druncea, Andreea Acatrinei, Madalina Gutu and Andreea Grigore.
He explains that Dana Druncea has got over her sadness of not making the team for Europeans and she's working very hard, the same goes for Andreea Grigore and Andreea Acatrinei. Forminte also talks about Aluissa Lacusteanu, who's still recovering from her knee operation but
is doing well and is training on all 4 apparatus. She has progressed the most on bars and that is why Forminte is putting hope in her comeback too.

16th April 2008

Disappointing performance in Cottbus

Still tired after just coming back from the European Championships, Steliana had to compete at the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany where she tried to qualify on bars and beam. Sadly enough she fell off bars, scoring a 13.600 which meant she didn't qualify for the finals.
She did better on beam and qualified in second place with 15.725 but then in the finals she fell
off beam and finished 7th, scoring a 14.625.
Very disappointed with her performance, Stela talked about thinking of retiring after the Olympics but then later said for Prosport: 'My statement referring to retiring from competitive gymnastics was a spur of the moment statement. Everything I have said was because of disappointment. I was really affected by the weak results from Cottbus. Every athlete goes through difficult periods and it's normal to have these thoughts but with the help of the coaches, we get through it and move on. I am not thinking of retiring.'
There were better results for Sandra Izbasa, who qualified for beam and floor. On beam she finished 3rd with a score of 15.300 and she won floor with the same score, a 15.300.

5 April 2008

Team final seniors

Although the Romanians had qualified in first, the draw of lots decided that they had to start on bars and were in the same group as Russia again. In hindsight, this might have been an advantage for them, getting their weakest apparatus out of the way at the start.
The Russians were first up, showing their class on bars with Semenova scoring a 16.200.
Because of Cerasela Patrascu's injury, newcomer on the scene, Gabriela Dragoi had to compete but she dealt with the pressure brilliantly, scoring a 14.600, Anamaria Tamarjan achieved a 14.775 and Steliana scored a 15.700. The Romanians did well as they were third after bars, with Russia and France first and second.
Ana Pavlova fell off beam scoring a 14.950, leaving the door open for the Romanians to close the gap.
The Romanian supporters were nobody less than Daniela Silivas, Kati Szabo and Maria Olaru. Especially Kati shouted encouragement as loud as she could, waving a Romanian flag from the stands.

Diana Chelaru, Ana Porgras, Claudia Voicu, Loredana Sabau, Amelia Racea

The junior team was there too with a huge flag and were having a really good time. Every time the marching music started, Diana Chelaru was swinging away.
Anamaria was first up on beam and performed a very solid routine, 15.575. She's got a very elegant line to her work and leaves very little room for deduction.
Stela was up second, nailing her full in again, but wobbled after her full turn, scoring a 15.525. Sandra wasn't completely round after her triple twist dismount but scored a good 15.350, putting Romania in second place, only 0.1 behind Russia.
Ana Pavlova performed a beautiful floor routine, very elegant and nice pirouette a la Bielman. (15.150). Semenova scored a 14.600 but Afanaseva fell on her last tumbling (14.100). One has to wonder why she was picked for floor as she had problems during the qualification too.
Anamaria was first up on floor for Romania and showed a beautiful and elegant routine. She's a real ballerina on floor but she's got very solid landings too, 15.125. In the meantime, Mr. Forminte was nervously walking up and down, fiddling about with his hands. He signed to Stela to calm down as she had to wait a long time before she could start and he gave her the last advice. She did well on her first series, only lifted one leg up to the side after a double layout but then had a step forwards on her full in, she also took a step on her 2.5 twist but the rest of the routine was good. (15.075).
Last up was Sandra, who performed so brilliantly in qualification on floor. She captured the audience yet again with her smile and was very solid in all her tumbling, piked full in nailed, twists combinations nailed and her final tumbling series a triple twist nailed. She scored even higher than in qualification, a 15.750! Romania was now in the lead, 2 points ahead of Russia with only vault to come.
Pavlova vaulted a good double twisting Yurchenko for a 15.050, achieving the highest score
for the Russians.
Gabriela Dragoi was first up for the Romanians but her hands contacted too far towards the end of the vault and she didn't get enough height to land very well and for a second, it looked like
she injured herself as her knees took a lot of impact but she was fine. (14.225) Steliana and Sandra performed well, scoring a 14.750 and 15.075. Romania won gold, Russia was second and France did well to win bronze after losing Isabelle Severino who, during qualification, tore her achilles while performing on floor.
Vanessa Ferrari wasn't in the best of forms, watering down her floor routine and falling off beam on her full in. She just looked unhappy and later on in the press room, she was crying while being consoled by her parents.
In the meantime the Romanians had all reason to celebrate their gold team medal. Injured Patrascu was carried down from the stands to be able to celebrate with the team and there was a big group hug.

Steliana Nistor, Nicolae Forminte, Sandra Izbasa

Later on in the press conference, both Stela and Sandra were laughing away. It started with Stela trying out if the microphone worked. She tapped it and then had a look on her mobile phone. Then she put up the phone to the mic and played a ringtone. Sandra was in fits and started clapping.
Then Nicolae Forminte came in and sat in the middle of both of them but he was concentrating on his mobile phone too, having Sandra in laughing fits again because all of a sudden, Stela looked at her phone so maybe as a joke, he sent her a text message, who knows but the team spirit is wonderful and that's really good to see.
During the press conference Nicolae Forminte said: 'First I want to congratulate all the eight teams who were in the final. My opinion is that it was a difficult competition because all countries could have been on the rostrum. All countries have made huge progress and we are pleased to have won this competition in such good company.'
About the injury of Patrascu and how it effected the team he said: 'You have seen yourself how difficult it was. All five gymnasts were prepared to compete and are ready for the moment that we need them to do their routines. Cerasela Patrascu and Gabriela Dragoi are from the same generation and have the same level. I am very pleased that Gabriela managed to compete and she replaced Cerasela in a perfect way. We will find out at home in Romania what Cerasela's injury is.' (She is having an arthroscopy operation on her right knee next week and they are hoping she can resume training in 2 months)
Question to Stela: After winning the gold at the Junior Europeans in 2004 and then getting injured and having to take time off for an entire year, how do you feel now by winning gold again and what do you expect for the Olympic Games?
Stela: 'Of course it wasn't easy for me to recover after being out for an entire year and of course I'm happy to be here again. I hope to win many medals in Beijing.'
End of press conference and everybody made their way out. Outside, Cerasela Patrascu was placed on a bench outside and lots of little French kids wanted to have their picture taken with her. She was so patient and so sweet to them. Then, when all the others came out and were heading to the bus, she started to panic a little and a tiny voice said: 'Sunt Aiiiici!' (I'm heeere!'), just to make sure they wouldn't drive off without her.

Results
1. Romania: VT: 44.050; UB: 45.075; BB: 46.450; FX 45.950 Total: 181.525
2. Russia: VT: 44.000; UB: 46.075; BB: 45.550; FX: 42.850 Total: 179.475
3. France: VT: 42.375; UB: 44.525; BB: 45.200; FX: 45.075 Total: 177.175
4. Italy: VT: 43.700; UB: 43.575; BB: 44.525; FX: 43.975 Total: 175.775
5. Ukraine: VT: 42.150; UB: 44.250; BB: 45.625; FX: 43.450 Total: 175.475
6. GBR: VT: 43.450; UB: 45.475; BB: 42.025; FX: 43.100 Total: 174.050
7. Germany: VT: 42.700; UB: 44.125; BB: 41.375; FX: 42.650 Total: 170.850
8. Holland: VT: 42.650; UB: 41.050; BB: 42.100; FX: 41.025 Total: 166.825

4 April 2008

Junior team final and all-around

Strangely enough the juniors didn't have a qualification for the team final, their competition was the final and all-around and through this they would qualify for the apparatus finals. They competed with four girls and the lowest score didn't count.
Russia, who competed with Nabieva, Mustafina, Novikova, Dementyeva and Solovyeva, started like lightning, taking a big lead after vault and especially after bars, it seemed the competition was already decided at this point but the fight for silver and bronze was fierce.
Romania struggled a bit on vault but Ana Porgras (13.650) and Amelia Racea both showed full twisting Yurchenkos, Amelia posting the highest score for her team, 14.025.
They made too many errors on bars, posting the 8th score on the day. Ana Porgras showed a really good routine with good combinations but then came frighteningly close to the bar during her double layout dismount, almost hitting it with her shins so the coach stepped in and touched her which gave her a 0.8 deduction (13.450)
Amelia Racea also has a good routine, showing good form on her stalders but as in training, she's too far from the bars after her Jaeger so she fell (13.375)
They fought on though and performed well on beam. Loredana Sabau performed a Silivas mount.

Daniela Silivas was in the crowd and I'm sure she was delighted to see her skill performed again. Loredana performed a solid routine for a 14.750.
Sadly enough Ana Porgras fell on her back somersault, after nailing her free walkover, flick, layout! (15.150) and Claudia Voicu had to count a fall as well after her free walkover, flick, layout (14.775) but Romania still posted the second highest score on this apparatus which put them within a chance of a bronze medal.
They competed well on floor, Loredana Sabau performed a solid routine (14.200) and crowd pleaser Claudia Voicu scored a 14.075. It seemed that Ana Porgras downgraded her routine, likely due to a leg injury so she didn't receive as a high score as she's capable of (14.075). Amelia Racea did very well, showing good tumbling and nice choreography, scoring the highest score of her team, 14.675.
In the meantime the Dutch were performing solid routines, Natasja Blind posting a 15.025 on bars and dancing to a combination of music of the Pink Panther on floor. (14.200)
The French girls were encouraged by the crowd who produced a massive noise. One has to wonder whether this puts the girls off more than it helps them as they were constantly screaming throughout their routines which must have also disturbed the other nations.
The competition was finished and the score board had the Romanian team in 3rd. They were delighted and at that point, all the competitors were marched out of the arena. The girls quickly changed out of their tracksuits but then as they came back in, the score board had changed as they hadn't counted the score for the French girl Dufournet on beam yet (15.700)! That changed the entire outcome as now the Romanians were 4th! They were devastated and cried.
I seriously think this rule should change. How can you let teams march out of the arena when the final score hasn't been counted! and nobody knows the official outcome yet?

Results:
1. Russia: VT:43.625; UB: 46.175; BB: 46.400; FX: 44.425 Total: 180.625
2. France: VT: 42.150; UB: 42.675; BB: 44.150; FX: 41.525 Total: 170.500
3. Holland: VT: 41.350; UB: 43.850; BB: 42.550; FX: 42.200 Total: 169.950
4. Romania: VT: 41.375; UB: 40.775; BB: 44.800; FX: 42.950 Total: 169.900
5. Italy: VT: 41.525; UB: 43.175; BB: 42.450; FX: 42.200 Total: 169.350
6. GBR: VT: 40.975; UB: 42.600; BB: 41.375; FX: 42.550 Total: 167.500
7. Ukraine: VT: 40.100; UB: 41.725; BB: 42.350; FX: 41.000 Total: 165.175
8. Belgium: VT: 41.650; UB: 39.500; BB: 40.000; FX: 41.000 Total: 162.150

3 April 2008

Team Qualification Seniors

As in training, the Romanians performed in the same group as the Russians but the latter didn't start that well on vault, only achieving the 7th highest score. Sandra posted the highest score for Romania on this apparatus, a 14.925, Steliana scored 14.675 and Cerasela Patrascu 14.650.
On to bars and a lot would depend on how they would perform here. Anamaria Tamârjan did well (14.500) so things looked hopeful but then disaster struck. After a good routine, Cerasela Patrascu was so keen to stick her landing that she landed with almost straight legs and then got a bad double impact in both knees and collapsed to the floor. She got up but couldn't move, she had to be carried off the podium by Nicolae Forminte. She scored a 14.475. It looked grim and it's almost hard to believe that Romania had to encounter a bad injury at Europeans yet again, after losing Aluissa Lacusteanu to a bad injury in 2006 at Europeans and where Sandra Izbasa also broke her metatarsal.
Stela performed well on bars, scoring a 15.400 and Romania posted the 3rd highest score on this event, which looked good as their strong apparatus were still to come.
Russia looked very strong on bars, especially with Semenova performing well, scoring a 15.875 and giving them the highest total score on bars.
On to beam and Anamaria Tamârjan performed a solid routine (15.400), not showing any nerves at all. Next up was Stela, who nailed her full in and performed her dismount without any problems now, earning her a 15.800. Sandra Izbasa did even better and scored a 15.875, qualifying both girls first and second for beam final and posting the highest team total on this apparatus.
They did well on floor too, Anamaria showing precise landings and nice dance (15.125). Stela opened with a double layout, second series was a full in (14.825) and Sandra's floor routine was absolutely beautiful to watch. She has blossomed in such a way, performing a floor routine as it should be, with nice dance and a smile which made the audience want to join in. She was delighted when she saw her score, 15.700 and beamed when she said to Forminte: 'I scored a 15.700!!' Romania also posted the highest team total on floor which put them first after the qualification.
Stela had the highest individual score, 60.700, which would have given her gold but sadly enough there wasn't an all-around competition this year.

Results:
1. Romania: VT: 44.250; UB: 44.375; BB: 47.075; FX: 45.650 Total: 181.350
2. Russia: VT: 42.775; UB: 45.600; BB: 44.475; FX: 43.575 Total: 176.425
3. Italy: VT: 44.475; UB: 43.025; BB: 44.025; FX: 43.925 Total: 175.450
4. France: VT: 43.500; UB: 42.500; BB: 44.300; FX: 44.300 Total: 174.600
5. GBR: VT: 43.175; UB: 44.125; BB: 43.575; FX: 43.175 Total: 174.050
6. Germany: VT: 43.475; UB: 43.550; BB: 42.925; FX: 43.700 Total: 173.650
7. Ukraine: VT: 41.775; UB: 44.650; BB: 44.450; FX: 42.500 Total: 173.375
8. Holland: VT: 42.950; UB: 39.800; BB: 40.025; FX: 42.650 Total: 165.425

2 April 2008

European Championships

Training session seniors and Juniors

The training sessions for both seniors and juniors were very long days, starting at 10 in the morning until aproximately 8.30 in the evening. It's almost impossible to report about every group and country so my main focus with be on the Romanians.
The seniors had their training session on the 1st of April, Tuesday, and the Romanians came on in the last group, together with Russia, Italy, France, GBR, Germany, Ukraine and the Netherlands and started their training session on vault, together with Russia.
The girls looked relaxed and did well. Cerasela Patrascu looked good on bars, with nice stalders and good swing and so did Steliana Nistor.
On to beam and Steliana gave everybody a huge scare by landing on her neck. Her foot missed the beam while she dismounted but she couldn't stop the movement and fell quite hard. She tried to roll back up but then put her hand up and lied back down. Nicolae Forminte who had been watching vault at the same time as the girls were on beam, had the fright of his life when he saw Stela lying on the mat and rushed up on the podium, so did the nurse and Lili Cosma. It looked quite bad initially because she was lying down for quite some time. Poor Gabriela Dragoi didn't know what to do as she was next up and as the organisation didn't allow gymnasts to go over the set time limit for practise, she had to go back up on the beam while they were attending to Stela right below her. Sandu told her to make sure to stay on one end of the beam.
The nurse put a neckbrace around Stela's neck and she walked off carefully. She then was properly examined and the neckbrace came off and her neck was massaged.

The girls went on to floor and Stela had to decide whether she could continue or not. She warmed up a little, running from one corner to the other and jumping up and down and then decided it was ok. She then performed her floor routine while Sandra was sitting down on the floor watching her and encouraging her. Nicolae Forminte made sure he was there to catch Stela on the landings of her tumbling. She was laughing again and things looked a lot brighter than 10 minutes ago.
The girls marched off to a well earned rest and the coaches deliberated about how the training session went.

The training session juniors, Wednesday
As the seniors didn't have to compete today, Stela, Sandra and Cerasela decided to do some leotard shopping at the Moreau stand. As they had drawn the curtains around the stand to give the girls some privacy, Lucian Sandu was waiting outside when Nicolae Forminte came out and said that the girls couldn't decide and they needed his input too. Then he looked up and joked 'Women!' and walked back in. The girls came out laughing and had finally picked a new leo.
(Which they probably wore in the EF)
The Romanian juniors were in the last group, just like the seniors, and they competed with Russia, Germany, Italy, GBR, Netherlands, Ukraine and France.

Unfortunately for the Romanian team, Andreea Chelaru got injured while in France and couldn't compete. She was upset while she was on the phone to someone to talk about it as it must have been a major blow to the team.
They started on vault and then moved on to bars, which proved to be a major problem. The girls show potential on this apparatus though and especially Amelia Racea showed really good stalders but she had problems catching her release move and so did the others.
The girls showed good routines on beam, especially Ana Porgras showed really good form
combined with difficult skills.
Floor was a delight to watch with really good music choice and really nice choreography. Little Claudia Voicu danced and smiled away, with a nice wiggle move in the corner which she
performed with a huge smile on her face.