From Prosport:

In just over three days, at the Petroleum Club from Oklahoma City, Lavinia Milosovici will join the world’s gymnastics personalities. It is a normal recognition of the merits of the double Olympic champion in Barcelona ’92, for which sport was drawn only within the limits of the podium, and she won 29 medals during her career out of which 13 were gold.

How did you receive the news of being introduced in the Hall of Fame?
It is a joy, it is a big honour for me to be there, because being one of the most famous sports athletes of the world, it gives you the sensation that you have really left something behind all of it. And the fact that the world is appreciating your work can only bring more fulfillment.

Have you organized all your departure details?
I kept in touch with Nadia, she called us and took care of everything. In fact, everything was organized by her and we accepted her invitation with big pleasure. I only know that it will be a show…

Do you feel that the results won by your generation were fast forgotten?
No, because people still talk about us, about what we succeeded then. We receive many invitations to different occasions, we are invited to ceremonies, it’s not about forgetting. About the ceremony that will follow, I am happy that the Americans aren’t forgetting about athletes, theirs or from other countries.

You were the last gymnast to ever score a perfect 10 for the last time at the Olympics…
And it seems that it will remain this way for a long time, because from what I can see in the code of points, it’s not going to go back to the old system.

Speaking of the new code, what do you think of it?
Hard! It seems like all the beauty of the sport is gone, it is quite hard to understand it now and how the gymnasts are scored. I have friends who ask me why is it this way and not that way. I think the way gymnasts are scored right now is quite closed.

What do you think of the Romanian team? Did you watch the Europeans from Berlin?
I think that the girls have improved a lot, they have more confidence in themselves, something has changed in them ever since the old coaches have left. It is a change which brings a lot of hope.

You were the same generation with Chusovitina (35 years old) who still competes today..

She probably hasn’t had injuries which could’ve kept her back, and the fact that she is competing for her son gives her a motivation which only a mother knows. It is very nice to see that she is still competing.

Claudiu