YSD to Triple Prize money for European Champs
The Romanian men’s gymnastics team arrived home late Monday night, after taking the bus from Patras to Athens, then flying back home. YSD Minister, Georgiu Gingãras managed to convince Prime Minster Adrian Nãstase to triple the prize money awarded to the European champions, meaning each tem member will receive 381 million lei ($12,700) for their history-making performance. Salary negotiations are coming up
GS: From what you’ve seen at these Championships, do you think you need to work on parallel bars and high bar more? The rest of the team, will also have the week off, so they can spend [Orthodox] Easter with their families.
Upon his arrival, head coach Dan Grecu agreed to sit down for an interview with Romanian newspaper Gazeta SporturilorGS: What does this performance mean for men’s artistic gymnastics in Romania?
DG: First of all, it’s a new record. This is the first time in the history of men’s gymnastics that the Romanian team wins the European Championships and the all-around title. If we were already used to winning these medals in the event finals, they now came were they were perhaps needed the most. We hope these wonderful gymnasts will keep this up.
GS: Did you expect to win the gold medal in the all-around?
DG: This was a somewhat predictable result, although, as you’ve seen, we’re not the only competitors.
GS: Is there any competition between the men’s and women’s team?
DG: We don’t compete against each other. On the contrary, we help one another. Moreover, the previous results of the girls helped us a lot in our preparation. The guys wanted more than in 2000 [previous European Championships], when we could have won the team event. They now managed to turn in a historic performance.
GS: How hard was it to soak in the moment, given the fact you were also acting as a judge?
DG: I got lucky because they alternated events. I had a little bit of time to catch a glimpse. The important thing is I had a lot of confidence in my team.
DG: That’s true. But the COP changes help us a little. I hope that at the next Worlds at least 3 of the guys who will compete in the finals can have 10.0 SVs, if not the entire team.
GS: A while back there was only one gymnast in Romania, Dan Grecu. Now we have a team. What’s next?
DG: We’re all hoping for a great future, especially with the team. Once you have a great team, event medals also start showing up.
GS: You asked for calm and focus before these Europeans. You refused to talk about negotiating the future contracts between the coaching staff and the federation. It’s time to tell us what you plan to do about that.
DG: I talked to RGF General secretary Adrian Stoica, before Europeans, and we will now sit down to finalize the last details.
GS: Do you think the RGF would follow your demands?
DG: Yes. I never had any problems with the RGF leaders or the [Youth & Sports] department.
GS: Do you plan to take a break after this competition?
DG: Definitely. It will be a restful week, and I want to spend a quiet Easter . My son’s birthday was on the 26th and I think I was able to offer him the best present with these results.
Back to Articles Page