Marius Urzica Makes Gala Appearance

World and Olympic pommel horse champion, Marius Urzică performed in front of a capacity crowd Thursday night. The gymnast will have to miss this year’s European Championships, set to take place in Patras, Greece, due to back problems, but he was happy to accept an invitation to perform in a gala. “This is something completely different for me, because I am set to perform alongside some great actors and ballet dancers. I was up on a stage, not in a gym, and that was a first for me, “ said Urzică. He performed a pommel horse routine. “This was a different routine because it didn’t have any high risk elements, that I would perform at Worlds or Europeans. Still, I had a couple of highlights, like my flairs, a skill the public always likes. I also had a new mount, with a sideweays somersault –completely different than what I perform in sanctioned competitions. It was an amazing experience; it’s nice to do something different once in a while,” he explained.

Marius Urzică said he was invited to the show actress Dorina Lazăr, who is the artistic director of the Odeon Theater. ‘She called me, but I don’t know whose idea it was to have me in the gala. They thought about doing something different and they probably saw Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, who was the star of the show in many galas in her home country. I think that’s where the organizers got their inspiration.” Marius wasn’t nervous, being used to the capacity crowds. He only came to one rehearsal with all the actors and ballet dancers. “I just went about my training as usual and I couldn’t say I worked more for the show,” said the gymnast. Due to his injuries, and the treatment he received in Germany, he had to miss training from the middle of December until February.

The gymnast shared the spotlight in last night’s show directed by Dragos Galgotiu, with actors Marian Râlea, Rodica Mandache and Alexandru Darie, circus performers from Globus [Romania’s biggest circus company], ballet dancers from the Romanian Opera House and Oleg Danovski Theater from Constanta. "Unfortunately, my wife Get missed my showbiz debut, because she was at home in Bistrita Năsăud, with our son, Andrei. I did have coach Dan Grecu and his wife in the audience for support, though", he concluded.

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