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14. 05. 12. - 16:00

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14. 05. 12. - 16:00

Triumphant welcome in Bucharest for the national gymnastic team

Michael Leidig

The national team of gymnasts returned home today at noon from the European Championship held on Saturday and Sunday in Brussels, and was welcomed by a numerous crowd at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest.

Family members, friends, teachers and also numerous officials came to the airport to greet the gymnasts who won four gold (out of five) and two silver medals, pushing Romania on the top of the Europe’s gymnastic chart for the first time in five years, and only a few months ahead the start of the Olympic Games in London. The national team took the first position in the teams’ competition, defeating Russia.

’It was a good rehearsal for London. We saw the Russians, now we have to see the Americans and the Chinese,’’ said coach Octavian Bellu.

The national team was congratulated by Prime Minister Victor Ponta who announced that the gymnasts would be rewarded by the government.

Here are the medals won by the Romanian gymnasts:

Catalina Ponor, winner of gold medal in team event, gold in balance beam event and silver in floor event
Larisa Iordache, gold in team event, gold in floor event, silver in balance beam event
Sandra Izbasa, gold in team event and gold in vault event
Diana Bulimar, gold in team event
Raluca Haidu, gold in team event
In Brussels the juniors’ team also won three sliver medals and three bronze medals.
Former gymnast star  Nadia Comaneci said in an interview with Eurosport last week, that  Romania has no change to win any Olympic medal in London. She said that Russia and the US teams will take the first two positions in the team event, while Romania will fight with China over the bronze medal.
Nadia also predicts that British gymnast Beth Tweddle will get the Olympic medal in the floor event. "Beth Tweddle should win gold and I hope she does," Nadia Comaneci told "Together to London" programme.

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