Catalina Ponor is one of the best and most fascinating gymnasts of all time.
She’s outspoken. Independent. Fierce.
Ponor won 3 gold medals in Athens. Then, shortly after, lack of discipline got her banned from the National Training Centre.
If Romania is to get back on the Team podium in London, Catalina, now age-24, will be on that team.
Fangymnastics has an English language translation of a recent interview with Adevarul:
What made you come back after having retired?
I honestly missed this a lot. I missed the gym, training, especially competing. I really wanted to come back.
What was the defining moment in this decision?
I looked back and I told myself that if other gymnasts from other countries can keep doing gymnastics at that age, why not me? And I returned very focused, very decided. God helped me prove you can come back after 4 years.
How about your USA experience?
It was nice, I learned so much from the people there, I really enjoyed it. I liked the life there, how the girls and the people treated me. Unfortunately, I can say people outside Romania treat me with more respect than those here. Not all of us here know how to respect and value the person, in other countries they know how to appreciate this and keep their best people close.
Are you considering moving to the USA after retiring?
Yes, why not? …
read more – Catalina Ponor: “Worlds were 70% disappointment and 30% joy”
related – Couch Gymnast – Looking Back: Catalina Ponor
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