- Feb 3, 2021
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She seems super angry, but I am not clear and what actually happened. https://romania.postsen.com/trends/...that-I-would-experience-such-humiliation.html I’ve edited this post to list everything I got from this thread and from a couple private messages sent by people fairly in the loop but unwilling to share information publicly. Also, here’s a better article with a good translation, and it’s consistent with everything I listed below, it seems.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/gina-gogean-and-82360671
https://www.patreon.com/posts/gina-gogean-and-82360671
- Patrick Kiens was made head coach for WAG in Romania apparently in January-ish. He was known previously for his work with Thorsdottir and, more recently, with gymnasts in Austria, though one person said that some Romanians (adults) are still unclear as to why he left Austria.
- Around the same time, Corina Morosan Haljoni, who had already been working with Romanian gymnastics, was also named to the leadership team. She had previously worked with Romanian gymnastics; for example, she was listed as “Seniors Team manager” at 2022 Euros a year or so ago.
- One person believes that the shift in Haljoni’s role was requested by Patrick Kiens.
- That change may have needed approval by Romania’s Minister of Sport, named Novak, though it’s not clear how long he may have sat on the decision.
- That change did get a positive reference from Anca Grigoras; I don’t know whether she has a specific role in Romanian gymnastics, but she is the judge that is the president of the European Women’s Technical Committee; we all know that those European judges are pretty well connected and have more opportunities to connect in person at international competitions across Europe than most international judges do
- The author’s understanding is that this reference may have had pull with Novak.
- Haljoni’s role change came as a surprise to most of the coaching staff, who then questioned how someone who is only known as a dance teacher/choreographer would be given such a position, especially when they don’t have a resumé of success. (Side note: My own research suggests she has been coaching in the UK for many years, though I am not clear about the capacity in which she guided gymnasts; perhaps it was mostly dance.)
- One person mentioned that Kiens’ boyfriend (no, not D.M., to answer a question earlier) also now appears to have a leadership role at Romanian gymnastics, and that he, too, is known for expertise in dance, and there’s a perception that 3 of these people all have dance background and limited experience with gymnastics more broadly.
- Some athletes and parents, concerned about team assignments and such, have felt pressure to go along with everything; nobody accused anyone of explicitly verbalizing such expectations, but one person pointed out that subtle words here or there could be interpreted as having meaning…
- Many of the past Romanian gymnastics stars are now speaking out against Haljoni being in this role. One of the assistant coaches, Gina Gogean, whom we all know, resigned in connection with that.
- Camilia Voinea, whose daughter Sabrina is the clear star of Romanian Gymnastics after success in World Cup and Euros this year, really tore into Haljni in an interview a couple of days ago. The author felt that this was significant because even if the most successful athlete’s coach and parent is doing well under the system, then something might not be so transparent.
- Gogean was relegated to working with athletes only on beam, which she protested in her letter.
- Gogean has collaborated with Belu and Bitang in setting up training plans and feels that they have been helpful, even though they have their own program going — that explains the reference to those two in her letter.
- Some people think that this may have been the plan from the beginning, when Kiens joined Team Romania.
- The author expressed some concerns about past Romanian coaching systems, but felt that there were some pluses to what has been happening the past couple years — the coaches and judges, at least generally seem relaxed and less under pressure but are aware that they have a way to go before they will reach the level they want.
- These coaches and judges feel that they are trying to keep their strengths up there and are slowly trying to address their weaknesses.
- That tweet I posted, from a couple days ago, said that Constantin Carmecita, president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation (and from the rhythmic world) and some of the Executive Committee resigned due to the coaching civil “war” (very dramatic language); however, since Worlds is in 5 months, the Sports Minister postponed the decision.
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