23. August 2005  
Bucharest / Romania  
Artistic Gymnastics

Monica Rosu and Alexandra Eremia excluded from Olympic squad

Eremia, Rosu

The Executive Committee of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation has decided to exclude Olympic vault and team champion Monica Rosu as well as Olympic team Champion Alexandra Eremia (who underwent surgery for appendix removal recently) from the Olympic Team and due to persisting weight problems and ongoing display of lack of motivation. Both gymnasts were sent home to continue their training at their home clubs in Bacau (Rosu) and Steaua (Eremia), separated from the Olympic team’s training center in Deva.

Octavian Belu

At the end of the committee's session,female Olympic team head coach Octavian Belu declaredd: “All members of the national Olympic team have been analyzed point by point to evaluate the current situation as well as the situation in view of the upcoming World Championships. At the end of this in depth analysis, Monica Rosu and Alexandra Eremia have been temporarily excluded from the national Olympic team.
Both have persisting weight problems they did not manage to solve for a long-time and additionally display a lack of interest and desire to train and prepare themselves for the World Championships at their max capacity. In case both will present at the National Championships in shape “all doors for their reintegration into the national Olympic team will be open”.

Adrian Stoica

Adrian Stoica, the secretary general of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation put it even harder: “When they will walk the talk and show that they are willing to commit themselves to competitive sports, the doors will be open.”

Belu further said that Catalina Ponor will show up in Melbourne with a completely modified routine on floor. As Belu doesn’t want to compete with mediocre athletes, in the worst case Romania will show up in Melbourne with only 2 gymnasts: Catalina Ponor (beam, floor).
From the two remaining national team gymnasts (Daniela Sofronie and Floarea Leonida) only one will probably be chosen to compete in the AA <.r> Source: Gazetasporturilor, Prosport

>> Gazetasporturilor, 26-Aug-2005: --
Monica Rosu decleared coming back...
In the meantime, in yesterday's edition of Gazeta Sporturilor, Monica Rosu declared that she is not going to retire from competitive gymnastics: 'I am going to come back! - They are not going to get rid of me that easy'.
She stated that she will continue her training program at her home club in Bacau in view of showing up at the Romanian Trials in September, trying to get rid of the 6 lbs she is currently overweight and return to the national Olympic team as soon as possible.

So does Alexandra Eremia who, though, considerably gained weight (16 lbs more than at the Athens OG) will try to make a comeback after having a rest, curing her appendix-removal she surgically received 3 weeks ago.
Source: Gazeta Sporturilor