There have been lots of recent gymnast comebacks - from the USA Shawn Johnson and Chellsie Memmell this year, and Alicia Sacramone last year - and from Romania Olympic champion Catalina Ponor and world champion Marian Dragulescu! Ponor and Dragulescu are set to compete this weekend at the Romanian national championships in Onesti. And there are more and more older gymnasts competing. Catalina Ponor, 24 years old, started her comeback in late 2010 after being retired from gymnastics for 3 years. She won three gold medals at the 2004 Olympics. Some of the men at the 2011 USA National Championships performed the difficult Dragulescu vault - 3 1/2 front flips with a twist (so they are facing the vault on their stick!). Marian Dragulescu, 30 years old, has skipped all of the 2011 gymnastics season so far, but will most likely do his Dragulescu vault this weekend! Romanian National Championships - Comanecia Hall, Onesti Friday, August 26: women's team/individual all-around Saturday, August 27: men's team/individual all-around Sunday, August 28: event finals Other Romanian Gymnasts Sandra Izbasa (Olympic/European champion) - not competing to be ready for the World Championships in October - she is nursing a sore Achilles' tendon Diana Chelaru (2010 Worlds silver on floor) and Junior Larisa Iordache is also skipping the meet. [QUOTE] "Despite the absence of a few gymnasts for medical reasons, we expect great presentations and quality," said Anca Grigoras, Brevet judge and federation spokeswoman. "All the gymnasts, coaches and clubs are all very involved, because the responsibilities and demands are high with the upcoming world championships in Tokyo and, of course, the Olympics next year in London." [/QUOTE] International Gymnast Magazine Online - Ponor, Dragulescu to Return at Romanian Nationals in Onesti Ana Porgras - (2010 Worlds balance beam champion) competing, coming back from tough European championships in Berlin Also competing for spots on the Romanian women's gymnastics team for the 2011 Worlds in Tokyo,Japan: Daniela Andrei, Diana Bulimar, Gabriela Dragoi, Raluca Haidu, Amelia Racea, and Diana Trenca And the Romanian men's gymnastics team: [QUOTE] "We will stay [in Onesti] for our upcoming tri-meet with Germany and Switzerland in early September, after which we will return to Bucharest continue preparations for the world championships in Japanese capital," men's head coach Ioan Suciu said. "Obviously the national championships are very important and seen as a test for worlds, where we have a very difficult mission to accomplish and where we'll be in top form." [/QUOTE] [COLOR=#810081]International Gymnast Magazine Online - Ponor, Dragulescu to Return at Romanian Nationals in Onesti[/COLOR]

Ana Porgas wins 3rd straight Romanian Nationals Title! 2011 Romanian National Championships Aug. 26, Onesti Women's All-Around VT UB BB FX Total 1) Ana Porgras CS "FARUL" Constanta 5.0/13.975 6.2/14.200 6.5/15.825 5.6/14.650 58.650 2) Amelia Racea CNS "CETATE" Deva 5.8/14.375 6.0/14.650 6.1/15.050 5.5/14.450 58.525 3) Raluca Haidu CNS "CETATE" Deva 5.8/14.425 5.9/14.150 6.0/14.850 5.5/14.250 57.675 4) Diana Bulimar CS "DINAMO" Bucuresti 4.8/13.575 5.5/13.975 6.1/13.875 5.8/14.950 56.375 5) Daniela Andrei CSS Buzau 5.0/14.025 5.4/13.950 5.5/13.875 5.5/14.350 56.200 6) Gabriela Dragoi CSS Buzau 5.0/13.650 5.8/14.575 5.5/13.775 4.7/13.325 55.325 7) Diana Trenca CNS "CETATE" Deva 4.4/13.275 5.5/13.925 5.6/13.625 5.3/14.075 54.900 8) Maria Balea CNS "CETATE" Deva 4.6/13.300 4.5/12.050 6.0/14.775 5.3/13.925 54.050 9) Catalina Ponor CS "DINAMO" Bucuresti 5.3/14.525 0.0/0.000 6.4/15.775 5.6/14.625 44.925 10) Ancuta Ciuculete CSS Sibiu 0.0/0.000 0.0/0.000 0.0/0.000 0.0/0.000 0.000 Great Britain Internation Guest Gymnasts 1) Hannan Wheelan 5.0/13.775 5.5/14.000 5.7/13.625 5.7/14.525 55.925 2) Elizabeth Beddos 5.0/13.450 4.8/13.175 4.9/13.700 4.5/13.300 53.625 3) Jennifer Pinches 5.0/13.450 5.1/12.550 4.7/13.400 5.7/13.675 53.075 4) Danusia Francis 4.4/13.100 4.3/13.200 5.1/13.225 4.3/13.200 52.725 5) Charlotte Lindsley 5.0/13.475 4.8/12.825 4.9/13.625 4.9/12.600 52.525 6) Kelly Simm 5.0/13.250 4.8/12.700 4.4/12.925 4.8/13.050 51.925 7) Laura Mitchell 4.4/13.050 4.5/12.725 4.8/12.800 4.5/13.175 51.750 8) Niamh Rippin 5.0/13.950 5.1/11.700 5.5/12.350 5.4/13.350 51.350 9) Jocelin Hunt 5.0/13.675 4.7/11.325 5.1/12.975 5.0/12.675 50.650 10) Laura Edwards 0.0/0.000 5.3/13.175 4.9/12.000 5.1/13.700 38.875 11) Becky Downie 0.0/0.000 5.6/14.400 4.4/13.000 0.0/0.000 27.400 12) Imogen Cairns 0.0/0.000 0.0/0.000 4.8/13.750 5.3/13.100 26.850