A new comeback for Catalina Ponor?
From Prosport:
The start of 2011 sees Catalina Ponor (23 years old) near the Olmypic gymnastics team once again. The girl from Constanta, retired from international competition two times (2006 and 2007), is testing her limits at the training centre at Izvorani.
After being called back to the team after the return of Belu and Bitang, the 2 pathways didn’t exactly meet from start. After her American dream was cut off when she returned to Romania, Catalina confirmed in an article published by ProSport that Mariana Bitang had called her back to the team through an email. She, however, declined her offer in July 2010, and a comeback to gymnastics at that time seemed almost impossible. Time arranged everything. Catalina didn’t go to America, and the Izvorani training centre took her by the eye. “Yes, she is in Bucharest and she is training” – a close friend of Catalina from Constanta confirmed.
Stoica claims that Catalina’s future depends on her health.
Other sources from Izvorani consider that the triple Olympic Champion from Athens would have two targets. “She would either come back to artistic gymnastics, or to participate in demonstration tours, where she would be guaranteed a great physical form.” The fact that it doesn’t hurt to try, and the comeback trends, like Corina Ungureanu or Steliana Nistor, gives hope to other famous retired gymnasts.
“There aren’t rumours regarding the return Catalina. All I can say is that right now there are discussions of a possible comeback, we don’t know how much she can resist from a health point of view. In the future we will know more.”, said Adrian Stoica. Contacted by telephone, Mariana Bitang didn’t want to comment on the information.
Catalina Ponor`s last gold medal on the Balance Beam @ 2006 Europeans:
Claudiu
Leave a Reply