Nadia Comaneci Defends Gymnasts

Original articles were published on Nov. 16th and Nov 13th respectively in Evenimentul Zilei

The mean-spirited sarcasm is the original author's doing, not mine.

Fomer romanian gymnasts, Lavinia Milosovici, Corina Ungureanu and Claudia Presacan agreed to pose nude for a Japanese magazine. According to Romanian newspaper Evenimentul Zilei Corina, Lavinia and Claudia were paid $40,000 each for the pictures they did. Yesterday, meaning Tuesday, almost all the RGF employees logged on to admire the gymnasts� pictures, after hearing about them from the forum�s technical director, Anca Grigoras.

An upset RGF General Secretary Adrian Stoica added that �it�s true it�s their life and they can do whatever they want. What I find scandalous is the fact that the pictures taken also show the Romanian flag on their leotards. That way, the Japanese fans could conclude they�re still competing. We�re very upset by this.�
RGF President Nicolae Vieru was just as upset. �Nothing can surprise me anymore. It�s yet another proof that Romania is the land of all opportunities. Obviously they did it for the money. But not as much as it�s been rumored. What, they�re well-known supermodels now?� Once news of their �feat� reached Romania, it seems that the three divas have been trying to get their pictures pulled offline.

In a interview with Romanian newspaper Evenimentul Zilei, Nadia Comaneci refused to condemn the Lavinia, Corina and Claudia�s decision to pose nude.

EZ: What are your comments on the gymnasts� decision to pose nude?
NC: I don�t have any comments. They�re adults and they�ll do whatever they think is best for them.
EZ: They said they did for the money. Do you think that�s a good enough reason?
NC: I already told you. It�s their life. You won�t get anything else out of me because I don�t know what else to say.
EZ: There are people who feel this will affect the image of Romanian gymnastics in the world. What�s your take on that?
NC: I don�t believe it will. It shouldn�t affect the image of the sport.
EZ: The fact that they posed with the Romanian team apparel has been brought up.
NC: We shouldn�t confuse one with the other [the image of the sport with the leotard, I would think].
EZ: Did you ever receive a similar offer?
NC: No. And to be honest, I�m not sure I would have accepted the offer if it were made.

Nadia is currently visiting School Number 11 in Bucharest for special needs children, and will serve as a tour guide to American President George Bush during his visit in Romania, set to start on November 23rd. �Romanian authorities contacted me a while back, asking me to help them with President Bush�s visit. I�m glad to do something that can help Romania. I haven�t received any instructions from local officials on what to do because I am an adult and I know what to tell President Bush. I want to give something back to my country in exchange for everything I got.� Asked if she had any recommendations to make for President Bush during his stay, she said that �it will be a short visit. The President�s schedule has not been released yet and I�m not involved in setting it up.�

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