This is a translation from Sibiu 100%. The original article, in Romanian, can be found here and is signed by Georgian Fulea.
A picturesque green area, beautiful houses, flocks of sheep, winding roads and an unique place. This is Tilişca village. We paid it a short visit there, where the number one gymnast of Sibiu county was born, Andreea Maria Iridon. This is the most important sport in Romania and she practices it at the highest level. Andreea was not home at Tilişca, she is training with the Junior Olympic team at Izvorani. We found instead her mother, Paraschiva Nan, who happily welcomed us. She spoke to us about some of the things that had made her daughter to be named one of Romanian gymnastics biggest hopes at only 14 years. “Andreea comes more and more rarely home, and the time she is allowed to spend here is shorter every year. When she comes home she likes to go to the (nearby) spring, to listen to the water flowing, at the cemetery where her grandparents are and to do picnics. “
We enter a room and we find a collection of Andreea’s belongings. The cabinets, the walls, the doors, the shelves and the drawers are filled with everything the great athlete has earned in competitions. Countless medals, diplomas from gymnastics meets and from school, pictures, newspaper clippings, calendars with her picture and her favorite plush pets are everywhere. We take a seat and the mother begins to tell us about her daughter. “Andreea was very energetic since she was little, she did somersaults in the house and jumped all over the place. I used to nag her, telling her we are doing Deva, we are doing Deva. She was too small and she didn’t know what that was. I called Deva and they said they couldn’t take her. She was only four. Then, at the selection has not yet five years old, but when they saw her moves they took her. I didn’t take her to Sibiu because I didn’t know that there was a gymnastics club… only after about four years I learned.”. Taking her child to Deva is related to her mother’s love for gymnastics. “Well, I always loved gymnastics. I was selected for Deva by Bela Karoly when I was little, but my parents didn’t let me go.
About seven years during which which Andreea Iridon prepared at CNS Cetate Dev, under Adela Popa, Alex Militaru and Ioan Coroiu, the first becoming a second mother to her. It was not easy for her to be among strangers, but in time she began to get used to it. In the gym she progressed from year to year, and over time, her group and her team started to be feared at meets. Starting with 2012 she was promoted to the Olympic team in Izvorani, the place where the squad coordinated by the fabulous Octavian Bellu and Mariana Bitang trains. Cristian Lăcrămioara Moldovan are her coaches. “You tell Andreea that I’m counting on her for beam and parallel bars” Mariana Bitang told me one time, says her mother.
We touch the subject of the gymnast’s favorite things: “Andreea likes to learn new routines and elements, to work on intricate routines. Floor and beam are her favorite events, Anastasia Liukin is her favorite gymnast. She loves animals, she always had a dog, a turtle or a parrot etc. She loves to cook, to surf the web, she calls me to tell me what she’ll like to eat when she comes hope. Her dream is to go to the Olympics and win gold on bars.”. Invariably, the conversation drifts toward financial side too; it was not easy for the mother. “At first it was difficult. From five to nine we had to pay for her paid food and accommodation. We were lucky that her uncle helped a lot. Then went to competitions and earned a scholarship. Now we have to buy equipment, which now happens more often than before. “
During these years, Andreea Iridon was on the podium of national and international meets for over 60 times, taking first place in almost every event attended, whether it was National meet, Europeans or the Olympics (probably referring to Youth Olympic Festival). Andrea Iridon’s biggest success came at the European Championships earlier this year. She won two silver medals on floor and beam, plus a bronze with the Romanian junior team. She did an impeccable floor routine, a stellar beam and she was good on bars too, the only difficulty seemed to be vault. “Andreea had been resting her elbows and her back one month before the Europeans. She should have won gold on floor, even if she competed with a bandaged foot. “
Andreea excelled again the past weekend at the National Individual Championships. The gymnast managed to win three medals: silver on bars and bonze on beam (correction the article says vault) and for the all around. Her performance is extraordinary given the fact that she is a junior, and senior team also competed there.
Paraschiva Nan (mother Andrea Iridon): “Andreea has had the luck of seeing countries like Japan, Belgium, and France. She is a student in the 9th grade at Liceul Sportiv Deva. Every day we talk on the phone. I always encourage her. She’s a sensitive girl, but she works a lot. She trusts God, and this confidence is helping her move forward. I am very proud of her, I went all over the country when she competed. It’s beautiful, it’s a reason to be proud, that she is at Izvorani and that she represents Romania “.
Let’s re-watch some of Andreea’s most recent successes:
silver on bars at 2014 Nationals:
Link http://youtu.be/kiU4UxzJcSA
bronze on beam at 2014 nationals:
Link http://youtu.be/NPoUkeKecXQ
silver on floor at 2014 European Championships:
Link http://youtu.be/atrD1L99-D0
Translation: Bea Gheorghisor
Photo cover: Dan Mares (via Puzzle-gym)