Izbasa, Chelaru, Iordache to miss Nationals

According to TVR, Iordache is out due to a muscle lesion, Izbasa felt pain in her tendon (but not the one that was injured in 2009) and now has a special training regimen, while Chelaru is still recovering her routines after an older injury kept her off the apparatus for a while. 

Prosport goes further and reveals that Diana underwent surgery on her abdominal muscles in order to remove a hematoma that appeared after a fall off beam at 2009 Euros.

I am sad. This should have been the third Romanian Nationals of Larisa Iordache. Izbasa's vaults and floor routines would have been among the top gymnastics moments of the weekend. Diana Chelaru could have consolidated her position as an all arounder.

So yes, I am saddened by the news but I am not worried. Romanian Nationals are not a high stake competition.

If anything, it is good that the gymnasts are not rushed back.

Memorable Quotes from TMF (The Medal Factory)

Episode 1

Catalina Ponor: I was retired for three years and a half, in which I never thought I would ever return. But I was encouraged when I watched the (2010) Worlds, when I saw the skills and in the next moment after the Worlds finished I called and I told I was coming. It was not something planned, it was a decision I took on the spot.

Sandra Izbasa: (about 2011 Worlds) I want what I didn’t achieve so far: to take a gold medal at the World Championships. The event is not important, it can be either on Vault or on Floor.

Ana Porgras: (regarding 2011 Worlds) It's tough to invent a new element... I will have to rely on execution but i will also increase the difficulty a little bit (...) I hope I will get to compete all around and that I will have the strength to be on the podium.

Amelia Racea: (in order to become a champion, an athlete) must be a bit talented, to work hard in the gym and a little bit lucky.

Caralina Ponor: The competition is very different now compared to older generations. In 2004 at the Olympics we were figthing for every tenth, we were fighting not to move, not even a hair.

 Catalina Ponor: (practising gymnastics) takes tenacity, ambition, perseverance. Even if it’s just training you have to think as you do at competitions. Each training must be a competition, not only with yourself, but also with your team mates.

Larisa Iordache: I do think about the Olympics but by then I must come to the gym… it’s not a must… I want to do it, no one makes me to. By this, I want to improve, to get to the level of those that were champions before. This is what I want to achieve too, to be up there on the podium.

Diana Chelaru: (about gymnastics in general) Yes, it's not easy, there is a lot of work behind but I can honestly say that it was worth it, because there are some satisfactions that you could not achieve otherwise: to be on the podium and hear the anthem is very beautiful... this is a very weak description... it's extraordinary.

Octavian Bellu: At the Worlds in October, I hope that I will get the chance to clarify for myself extremely well what is the potential of each gymnast. Of course, the calculations now will be for a team without Larisa Iorgache whilst in 2012 we will have to consider her as well.

Mariana Bitang: This is a tough period, of accumultation (…) some girls are on schedule in terms of progress, for some it’s more difficult but the important is that all of them are working and are healthy. We hope to add on difficulty for the worlds, to get there in a beter shape and the team that will compete there to be the core of the team for the Olympics.

Octavian Bellu: It’s a heterogeneous team but we hope to consitute an unitary team until the Olympics, a team that will be able to challenge the other teams for the medals in the team competition and all around and event finals.

The Medal Factory is a show by Digi Sport, episode 1 aired on Saturday, May 14th at 2:30 PM EET on DigiSport Plus. 

You can watch the first episode HERE (part one and part two), uploaded by Mickeyy from Fangymnastics.

EuroPhotos

... from a friend

And the AA final begins

Octavian Bellu being harassed by the Germans (my idea of a joke, sorry)- but they didn't allow me to stay in that spot
either 

Diana, congratulating Ama

Octavian Bellu and Ana Porgras

AA Podium

Carlotta Ferlito - Beam Finals

Ariella Kaeslin - Beam Finals

Vasiliki Miloussi - Beam Finals

Julie Croquet - Beam Finals

Elisabetta Preziosa - Beam Finals

Elisabetta Preziosa

Amelia Racea - signing autographs

Ana Porgras' blonde highlights

Yulia Belokobylskaya - during Floor Finals

Ama and Ana cheering for Sandra and Diana during Floor Finals

Floor Podium

Sandra Izbasa - already thinking of the long training hours ahead

FX podium

High Bar podium

Germans preparing for a riot after high bar finals :)

Romanians at French International

Diana Chelaru - first vault - in which she has a huge leg separation but no other major deductions:

Diana Chelaru second vault - where she barely makes it with her hands on the table

Ana Porgras - uneven bars - you know what I was thinking about when I saw this? I was thinking that she looks like a year ago at Euros in that team final when she had to compete on bars after getting injured on beam. She looks in pain. Of course it's not the same kind of pain... It may be the kind of pain you feel when you grow, when you evolve.

Sandra Izbasa - floor - I must say that even if I had my doubts when I heard she was doing the tango thing too... now I know that it was a good decision. This is a routine that suits her very well and a routine that the all the audiences will love.

Diana Chelaru - Floor - A very well executed routine. But she must change that music once and for all... It's almost as old as Lauren Mitchel's :)

Later edit. You can also watch Ana Porgras' beam set HERE.
Ana looks as lovely as she always has. She had two major breaks in the routine, on elements that she usually masters and she missed a couple of connections. Nevertheless she scored 14.733! That means a potential of 15.533 (given that doesn't wobble the switch ring leap - 0.3 and the layout on two feet -0.3  plus a couple of connections bonuses +2). 

part two of the almost lost pics

Mona Lisa smile:

Happy to be leaving smiles:

Diana Chelaru, on the other hand seems very comfortable:

Amelia Racea reminds me a bit of Gina Gogean. (and I also remember Sarah's take on Gina Gogean's serious face: "I'm a doctor, not smiley face". which I would link but her site is not available at the moment)
I have no idea how Amelia really is... she does seem a bit sad at times.
Even when she won the gold at Euros. See this face on the podium?

After this routine:


Maybe when she manages to overcome all injuries and be the best in the world we will see a big smile. But it's not mandatory... Amelia is a champion, not a smiley face :)

Top Gymnasts in 2010 according to FRG and my (not so thorough) attempt at undestanding the rankings

"At the end of a competitive year marked by many successes, both in artistic gymnastics, and aerobics, major international competitions - the World and European Championships, Youth Olympic Games, World Cup, the Romanian International Championships, National Championships and other top contests - a year of important changes regarding the organization and the preparation of the teams, a year that brought dissatisfaction as well, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation drew the line, denoting, according to tradition, the year's top 10 gymnasts 2010 in artistic gymnastics(women and men) and aerobics in the top rankings ranged Ana Porgras, Flavius Koczi and Mircea Zamfir whose performances this year are quite well known."

Rankings and some facts:

1) Ana Porgras

Most notable results: BB World Champion, 1st on BB in Ghent World Cup, 3rd with the team at Euros, 1st in the AA, 1st on Beam, 3rd on Floor at Romanian Nationals etc.

or watch here

2) Diana Chelaru

Most important results: silver on floor at 2010 Worlds, bronze on floor at Euros, 2nd on Floor at the nationals etc.

or watch here

3) Amelia Racea

Most important results: gold on BB at Euros, 3rd with the team at Euros 2010

or watch here

4) Sandra Izbasa

Most notable results of the year: 1st on Floor at Ghent World Cup, 1st on Vault and Floor at Romanian Nationals, 2nd on BB at Nationals, 2nd at the Arthur Gander Memorial

or watch here

5) Raluca Haidu

Most notable results: 3rd on beam and 3rd with the team at Europeans, 1st AA at Romanian International, 9th all around at the Worlds

or watch here

6) Gabriela Dragoi

3rd on BB at Romanian Nationals, 4th with the Team at Worlds

or watch here

7) Diana Bulimar

Notable results: 2nd on FX at Youth Olympic Games, 3rd on UB and 2nd with the team at Jr Euros

or watch here

8) Larisa Iordache

Notable Results: gold on FX, bronze AA and silver with the team at Jr. Euros, 1st AA and in all EF's at Jr. Nationals

or watch here

9) Cerasela Patrascu

4th with the team at Worlds, 3rd on Vault, 2nd on UB at Romanian Nationals

or watch here

10) Dana Andrei

Most notable results: 3rd on UB at Romanian Nationals

or watch here

So, according to FRG, 1st place in the World Cup beats Jr. European Gold AND Youth Olympic silver... wich is surprising for me. I would have had Ana, Diana and Amelia on first 3 spots as well... on 4th maybe Diana Bulimar (for her YOG silver), 5th Larisa Iordache (because of her Gold at Euros), 6th Raluca Haidu, 7th Sandra Izbasa, 8th Gabriela Dragoi, 9th Cerasela Patrascu and 10th Dana Andrei.

the taste of gold - more Ana Porgras in the news

did you crunch your medal?

Ana :"hahaha nooo not literally but I tasted it... it has a... sweet taste, very nice. I already think about next year, to hope to get something in the all around."

Whad did Mr. Bellu tell you?

Congratulations and you could have done better (laughs).

Diana: I did not prepare only for vault, you know. I worked a lot... But until the next Worlds we will have the European championships as well.

Whad did Mr. Bellu tell you?

That if not for that step on the landing, the colour of the medal would have been different.

Octavian Bellu: I think that the girls tried hard, the men also, they wanted to have a better competition but this is what they could do, and in the end the Romanian delegation did fulfil the objectives

or watch it here.

Diana Chelaru's silver medal

She may have been the ugly ducking of the team but that is an ooold story.

(www.adevarul.ro)

(www.radio-resita.ro)

R U S S I A!!!!!!!!!!! What a night!

Yep, they did it! The drama was there, there was some great gymnastics, there were some nasty falls, there was some over scoring but not so much underscoring... Great competition! Congratulations to the winners!

Romania did not have a perfect contest either but I think it was the only team without a fall. In the end they delivered exactly what their fans wanted: no falls, happy gymnasts, some great skills although we all know there is plenty of room of improvement, oh and did I mention that Diana almost stuck all her landings on floor?

I will come back with a more detailed analysis.

The fantastic improvement of Diana Chelaru

When Diana Chelaru first appeared on the international scene, in the spring of 2009, people were less than unimpressed. Her presence in the Romanian national team seemed more of an enigma, after she placed on the14th place in the all around final at the 2009 Euros. And I must add this: she was behind two gymnasts from Switzerland and one from Poland (among others). But this spring has brought to our attention a new Diana Chelaru. It seems that her hard work and the faith of Nicolae Forminte have paid off: they have managed to build, with patience and confidence, a gymnast for the team.

Take a look at her improvement on beam. I have rarely seen something similar (maybe it's just me):

April 2009 (or here)

April 2010 (or here)

and, of course uneven bars, although she is not an expert yet, at least she doesn't fall three times on the same routine as she used to :-)

June 2009 (or here)

April 2010 (or watch here)

Romanian Nationals! What a relief!

After the first day, I thought all the Romanian gymnasts were suffering either from lack of motivation or lack of training; out of shape or too injured to even dream of the World podium in three weeks.

The relief was that on the second day of the Natinals I saw all of them conviced that they were capable of achieving something, they looked somewhat dignified.

I must confess that Ana-Maria Tamarjan scared me a little, when I first got there. She was trying to show something to Nocolae Forminte, the head coach. She was in pain, jumping around and shaking her head as if she were saying "this hurts too bad, Mr. Forminte!"; then they let her mount the beam and was falling after every single pike front or aerial walkover.

Ana Maria: a bit(?) worried

After quite a while she moved to the UB with the other girls and the competition began.

Vault:

Diana Chelaru looks now much better than 3-4 months ago, mostly because she gained confidence. Her Double twisting Yurchenko doesn't look that terrible either. Her mark:14,287 (14,800 şi 13,775) - she finished first

Ana Porgras: she did the same vault twice; she managed to stick both landings plus she looks very clean in her flight

Amelia Racea: looks a bit tired, doesn't try too awfully hard to pull off perfect landings. Her final mark: 13,700 (13,900 şi 13,500) - finished second

Amelia Racea: preparing for her first vault

Ana Maria Tamarjan: made the same vaul twice (double twisting Yourchenko) and she was given 14.9 and 15.05 ... I don't think she actually deserved those marks, maybe the judges were more impressesd by her reputation :).

Third: Dana Andrei 13,287 (13,275 şi 13,300) - she's a junior

Uneven Bars:

Cerasela Patrascu looks good, but the real competitions are far away for her. She doesn't even try a proper dismount, probably she is not strong enough yet. Still, she looks clean and elegant and she reminds me of Ana Pavlova.

Cerasela Patrascu and Gabriela Dragoi

Ana Maria Tamarjan: She fell (again), but she looked a bit more polished than in day one

Ana Maria Tamarjan: UB

Diana Chelaru - fell on the same combination as in day one, she is just too far away and off direction in that release. Frankly, I don't think she'll manage to show that combination successfully at the Worlds.

Ana Porgars: had the nicest UB exercise, as expected of her, with the most difficult combinations, still after the dismount, Forminte pointed to her head, as if he were saying, "Ana, I don't know what's in there, but's not doing us good". Her mark: 15,050 - finished first

Ana, after her dismount

With Nicolae Forminte, talking about the head problems :)

Gabriela Dragoi: beautiful work, just not the most difficult skills and the most difficult dismount (only a double backward tucked).

Amelia Racea, was probabily the gymnast Forminte scolded the most (from what I have seen). Scored 14,375. to finish second

Third: the same cute Dana Andrei, with 13,900; all the other scores were bellow that because the gymnasts were either unable to perform their complete exercise due to injury or because they fell!!

Amelia and her coach

I'll be back with some more...