translated by Bea Gheorghisor:
There was no pressure because no one imagined that after Bela (Karoly left) anything (good) could still happen. … After Los Angeles they began to have faith … It was not until ’87 when we took five gold medals at a World Championship that they began to believe. …
Do you self-evaluate…
Daily. And I know what my possibilities and limitations are. I never tried to go beyond those limits. …
On Bela:
Did you get inspiration from anywhere for your work?
I would say that the system has developed itself. Neither I nor Goreac, Stan, Mazilu, neither Pop nor Sandulescu have worked with Bela (Karoly), not even for a minute. I did not know how he was doing it.
He was said to be beating the gymnasts.
I do not know. Nadia says no. In gymnastics, rigor was confused with taming. …
You are said to be tough.
Well, I’m tough!
That you are strict.
Yes! Gymnastics is an artificial sport. … it’s an unnatural thing.
… during such moves all they need is a split second to lose orientation in space or make a gesture that can potentially break their neck. And then I say this: I’d rather be severe and considered a draconian but I make sure that when I go out of the gym I can go home and be tranquil, than suffer the consequences of a serious injury or unfortunate moment. …
… However, outside the gym I dance with the girls, every Christmas I recite them quatrains, I get dressed in Santa Claus, I write verses for them …
It is surprising to some that we succeed with such a small number of athletes. But we try to offset through the number of training sessions, their duration and the number of repetitions.
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