Obersiggenthal, 6th of September 2014.
This is a brief chat which took place after the friendly meet against Switzerland and Germany, dramatically lost by the Romanian team. But on a personal level, there were no reasons to complain: Andreea hit both her events (beam and floor) and was quite content with her performance.
In a separate discussion before the interview, Andreea told me that she took a break immediately after 2014 Euros and then the “come-back” came more slowly. That is the reason for which she only has two events that are competition-ready at the moment. On beam, her pet event, she had been training only a double full dismount until recently “at Nationals I didn’t even train the triple, I just threw it directly in competition”. Still, the world championships are only weeks away and Andreea knows that against all odds she has what it takes to make a splash. But the next few weeks will be decisive.
TCG: You competed today on beam and floor, are you currently training all four events or just focusing on the two for now?
Andreea Munteanu: I am just focusing on beam and floor now, I am training a little bit on bars but for competitions there will be just the two.
TCG: And how is it when you compete on only two events. Do emotions get higher when you haven’t done a vault first, without having a previous contact with the competition “podium”?
Andreea Munteanu: Not necessarily the emotions but it’s a little bit more difficult because you have to keep moving to keep warm, to always do something not to lose what you achieved in warm-up. Mentally it depends on the gymnast, for me just the physical part is more critical.
TCG: Going back a little bit in time, to 2014 Euros, how was your 2nd big meet of your career, more pressure compared to the first one, I suppose…
Andreea Munteanu: Yes, I was a little bit disappointed, I was hoping for a final on beam and even a medal but I missed in the first day. But it happens and I hope in the future I will not make the same mistakes.
TCG: About the upcoming Worlds, what are your hopes on the events you will be competing on?
Andreea Munteanu: I hope I will stay healthy, to do my best routines, the way I know how to do them because results follow when you achieve your best. On beam, I want to qualify for the final and, why not, even medal; but the most important will be for us to do well in the team event, for each of us to contribute with good routines.
TCG: Last question: how come you changed you floor routine recently, is it a music that you feel better?
Andreea Munteanu: Not necessarily, it was just considered more suitable to find something new, I liked this new music so I went for the change.
Article by: Bea Gheorghisor
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