Getting to Know Alexandra Soncutean

Alexandra Soncutean turned 19 on May 20th. She finished 12th grade at the Baia Mare Sports High School, where she is set to take her graduation exams -the baccalaureate- starting tomorrow. She will be taking tests in Romanian, English, Geography, Philosophy and Physical education, in hopes of going to college in the fall. She plans to attend the Oradea Sports University because she would like to be a coach someday.

She actually started out as an artistic gymnast, when she was 7 years old. After 4 years, she switched to rhythmic gymnastics, where she was coached y Carmen Coca. “I changed disciplines because rhythmic gymnastics is easier, but also more feminine!” The hoop is her favorite apparatus. When she was only 13, Alexandra placed 4th at the National Championships held in Resita. She finished second with her group at the 1997 National Championships in Bucharest. At the 1998 National championships, she finished 3rd in the all-around, and first with her group. She went on to defend her national title with her group in 1999. She placed second with Baia Mare’s team in 2001, and helped the team to another silver medal this year. She’s been competing as a senior elite gymnast since 1998, and this was her final competition.

Alexandra is obviously a sports fan. She also loves traveling and described herself as an outgoing person, who likes philosophy because “it makes you think.” She listed Plato as her favorite philosopher, and the one who’s closest to her own set of moral values.
What does someone need to be a successful gymnast? “Talent, which you discover along the way, good motor skills, good handling of the apparatus and artistic inclinations.” That’s how we find out her artistic talent isn’t limited to the world of gymnastics, since Alexandra already published several poems. What were some of the obstacles she faced in her career? “Handling the apparatus. At least for me, this was the most difficult part. There were also the typical sacrifices made by an athlete, like a strict diet, and many training hours spent in the gym preparing for competitions. “ Alexandra is 1.60 meters tall, and weighs 43 kilograms (5 ft 3 in and 96 lbs). She keeps in shape by taking fitness and aerobic classes outside the gym.
As for her future plans, Alexandra believes that in order to be a good coach she’ll need to have “the same qualities as a good psychologist, an eye for spotting talent development, and a lot of imagination to choreograph original routines.”

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