Some of Romania's former gymnastics greats commented on the
current situation at Deva
Gina Gogean: "Being world team champion is not the same thing as
[winning] an individual title. Now it was time for Loredana to assume the
responsibility of being a leader, not to turn her back on the team."
Maria Olaru: "The responsibility is too big for Loredana, but she
needs to understand the team needs her."
RGF president Nicolae Vieru: "She has a moral obligation to the
federation. her teammates, and the country who gave her money to train."
Gazeta Sporturilor talked to Octavian Belu about Loredana Boboc.
GS: What's going on with Loredana Boboc?
OB: It's been a week since she set foot in the gym, given she is determined to
retire. I cannot understand her reaction. She got scared when she saw she has to
do four events, being used to just helping the team whenever needed. And since
we didn't approve of her decision to retire, she became undisciplined.
GS: How did this lack of discipline manifest itself?
OB: She no longer wanted to follow the training schedule, she would turn her
back on us [coaches] during practice. In the evening, she would disregard the
curfew going to bed late, and she's gained weight.
GS: What do you think is causing her to be undisciplined?
OB: Most definitely, money. I was a staunch supporter of the life annuity [paid
to Olympic medalists], but it turns out this provision, while overall a good
idea, also has negative effects on teenage girls who don't have a strong
backbone. An athlete that knows she will receive 10 M lei /month ($350) loses
her perspective. She is no longer interested in training and school, and that's
not normal. We have to sign off the alarm. The big names in gymnastics, such as
Lavinia Milosovici, Gina Gogean or Simona Amanar, gymnasts who won tens of
individual medals, understood the requirements of the sport, and stayed on the
team until they turned 20-21, while now a 16-year old kid can't stay on because
that's not what she wants. When you pay for your own training, you can do
whatever you want, but when the government funds your training, you have some
obligations. That's what Loredana doesn't understand.
GS: What did you do about it?
OB: The rules do not allow me, as head coach, to dismiss her from the national
team. So, I wrote a memo to the RGF, who called her in for an interview in front
of the Disciplinary Commission. It looks like they didn't decide on anything
because she's coming back to Deva today, March 15th.. In any case, I'm not
willing to make compromises anymore. I won't plead with anyone to keep doing
gymnastics, and I don't want to coach a generation of retired gymnasts (in the
sense that they're as good as retired due to lack of motivation). If only one
gymnast does her job, I'll take her to Worlds. I don't necessarily have to bring
a team and make a fool of myself. The world sees Loredana with a gold medal
around her neck, but they don't have a chance to see the world rankings, where
she is 96th, while Isarescu is 114th.
GS: What competitions do you have planned in the near future?
OB: I don't even know anymore. We already missed the American Cup and we won't
be going to Paris Bercy either (French International) because we don't have
anyone to send. As of now, I can count on Andreea Raducan and four juniors (bad
news for Isa, I'm afraid. She doesn't even seem to exist anymore). Despite an
arm injury, Raducan is training full-speed, but Carmen Ionescu and Alexandra
Barac aren't on the same level as Silvia Stroescu or Sabina Cojocar. Of course I
could solve this problem by leaving the National team, but after spending so
many years at Deva I can't be indifferent to what happens here. It's regrettable
that the sense of respect and will to work have all but disappeared.