Worlds Podium Training
Original article was published on August 14th in Gazeta Sporturilor
As the men�s team had their podium training at the Arrowhead Pond, Romanian officials expressed their dissatisfaction with the 90-minute training time. �Everyone was unhappy with the schedule. How could you be satisfied with 12 minutes for each event divided between 6 gymnasts? This rush was hard on us on floor and high bar, the latter being a lot more elastic than the ones in the training hall. The guys still didn�t get used to it,� said Mircea Apolzan, RGF�s technical director.
Several athletes stood out in the training frenzy. Among them Marius Urzica and Marian Dragulescu, who had won World titles on pommel horse, vault and floor before. �Yes. I can win. I�m confident.� Those curt statements were made by Marius Urzica, who�s been dominating pommel horse competitions since 1994. Sitting next to him at the post-training press conference, Marian Dragulescu turned out to be more talkative. �I know I must not lose focus. I don�t think about all the competition [days], only about my performance the next day. I�m well prepared for these Worlds.� Dan Grecu, their coach, doesn�t contradict them. �Marius will win on pommel horse. None of the other gymnasts impressed me on this event. As for Marian, he still has a good chance to medal on both floor and vault. This was an important training session because we saw our competition. They�re very talented, especially the US and China, but we also have a good team,� added Grecu.
Romania might not have any gymnasts march in for the opening ceremonies. The men�s team starts their qualifying round in the morning and Dan Grecu wants them well rested, while the women�s training session ends right before the opening ceremonies. �If they don�t change our schedule, we won�t go. We can�t even send our alternate because we didn�t decide who it will be yet. We�ll only name her [the alternate] on Saturday,� said Octavian Belu.
In related news, Corina Ungureanu will start working for Romanian television station B1 TV on Friday. The two-time World team champion will work for their morning show Morning life doing gymnastics commentary. Currently a coach at her home club of CSS Ploiesti, she will be their gymnastics analyst and commentate the Romanian team�s performance at Worlds.
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