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Champions in Paradise/Princesses in Malaysia

Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor also published an article about the trip in January, 2003.

The two former champions were treated like royalty, being whisked around in a limousine and “hunted” by the Malaysian journalists.

Following an invitation from the Malaysian government, the Youth and Sports Department and specifically minister Dato Hajah Jahara, Andreea Rãducan and Maria Olaru went to Malaysia for 5 days to teach theoretical and practical training courses in gymnastics. Arriving in Penang when the temperature was 32 degrees C (115 F), the Romanian girls were met in the VIP hall by minister Dato Hajah Jahara and Mai Loon, who was there as a representative of the tourism department. Throughout their entire stay in Penang, Andreea and Maria were driven around in a Mercedes limousine and stayed at one of the best known hotels in the city, Eastern and Oriental Hotel, an establishment favored by the King of Malaysia himself.

On their first day in Malaysia, Andreea and Maria where invited to a specialty store, where they both tried on Asian dresses. Maria chose a beautiful flower-print dress and upon examining herself in the mirror decided that “it almost makes me look taller.” They also posed for the journalists and all major newspapers published their pictures on the front page.

Maria Olaru taught a gymnastics course and the coaches present were very interested in the training methods used in Romania, the age gymnasts start competitive gymnastics and also a lot of other technical elements. Andreea helped out with the class, demonstrating many of the skills Maria referred to. Coaches from Pakistan and Qatar also attended the course.

In the afternoon, Andreea trained alongside with the youngsters from Penang. "Look, you need to keep your leg straight. There! See, you can do it!’ was one of the encouragements she let out in fluent English. She taught her students for 1.5 hours. The official gala/demonstration was attended by 800 spectators and was very well organized. The prefects wife declared the two gymnasts princesses of Malaysia.

Besides the temples, colorful neighborhoods, Cheong Fatt Tze’s house –a Malaysian version of the Rockefeller of sorts, now under UNESCO patronage- the gymnasts also visited a butterfly farm outside the city.

At the beginning of every year, Indian people [in Malaysia] take to the streets for three days and three nights for bona fide celebration. The show took place in the middle of the night, featuring giant floats with religious symbols, pilgrims headed to the temple to pray and loads of small businesses all rounding out the image of an impressive civilization. “I am a little bit afraid. But it’s something new,” said Andreea.