Andreea Rãducan Interview

Original article was published on Nov. 28th in Gazeta Sporturilor

GS: What did you feel when you fell during your beam routine at Worlds?
AR: I could only think the final was gone. I didn’t have time to thing about anything else, the press or other people’s reaction. I thought about myself first.
GS: How do you see your life from now on?
AR: I definitely had a different lifestyle here in Deva, where we were kept inside a plastic bubble. I think my new life will be completely different than the one here. On the other hand, everything has a beginning and an end. I couldn’t do gymnastics until I was 150 year old.
GS: How would you describe yourself?
AR: I should start with my shortcomings since I have lots of them, but that’s exactly what I’m trying to do –hide them. Well, what can I say?! I talk a lot and very fast, I’m stubborn to no end, but I’m also friendly and sociable. I’m withdrawn and I always think about the negative consequences first. I think it’s best to let things happened, not to force them. The important thing in life is to always leave room to say “good day’ [meaning maintain good relations] at least once in a while, if not always.
GS: Where there times when, even though you wanted to, you couldn’t get along with everyone?
AR: Yes, there have been enough, but I don’t want to remember that.
GS: Do you think anyone was happy when you missed the beam final?
AR: Ooo, I’m sure of it. My competitors, first of all.
GS: Anyone else?
AR: There were others, definitely, but I don’t even want to think about it.
GS: Do you think the world will welcome you?
AR: I don’t expect the world to be kind. The important thing is to keep a level head; I never liked to depend on others. My parents' attitude was very important to me and they understood and supported me in every decision I made.
GS: Any last minute thoughts?
AR: I’m happy with what I’ve done, but I grew up and my mind wonders from one place to the next. It’s not easy to follow a schedule anymore. People see you on the podium and everything seems peachy fine, but that’s not exactly the case. Before, I kept thinking I can’t wait to get done, but now that the moment has arrived, it’s hard. I can’t believe I’m leaving.

Retiring doesn’t just mean parting with gymnastics, but also with the people you leave behind. “I always had to say good-bye to somebody. First it was my parents, then my roommates Andreea Isãrescu, Maria Olaru and Simona Amînar, now it’s coaches Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang’s turn and my other roommates Oana Ban and Oana Petrovschi, “ said Andreea. Right now the only people who are happy are her parents who can’t wait to see her, especially since her brother also leaves away from home, in Constanta, where he plays soccer.

Although she’s still somewhat confused about her upcoming retirement, Andreea’s future plans revolve around the Sports University in Timisora, where she’ll be a first-year student. The first thing she’ll do is buy an apartment and she wants to go to driving school. Although she’s still a little scared to drive. After graduating college, she wants to move to Bucharest or Constanta.

Somewhat surprisingly, one of Andreea’s friends is Russian champion Svetlana Khorkina. "During competitions, she’s unapproachable, but she can be sociable otherwise. I even learned a few Russian words. I get along with Zamolodchikova best.” Asked to talk about her esthetic perception, Andreea doesn’t think Khorkina is beautiful, describing her as “a walking skeleton”

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