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MY OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE
By Ms Gina GOGEAN (ROM)
My name is Gina Gogean and I am from Romania. The beginning of my career
dates back to when I was only six years old when I was lucky enough to meet
Nadia Comaneci and her brilliant successes in her life proved to serve as a model
to me. I think every athlete has many dreams with the greatest one being the
Olympic dream, meaning to participate in the Olympic Games. For me this dream
became a reality.
My first experience was in 1992 in Barcelona when I was still fifteen years old.
It was my first ever-important competition and this was a great opportunity for me
to compete at such a high standard. I managed to win a silver medal in the team
competition. I knew that this result was only a beginning in my career and my
coach told me that if I wanted to do better I had to work very hard and I also had
to improve my exercises.
During the next four years, leading to the next Olympic Games in Atlanta,
I achieved a number of gold medals, silvers and bronze in the World
Championships and the European Championships. In 1996, a month before the
start of the Olympic Games I had to undergo an appendix operation. This was
a great shock because I thought that my Atlanta Olympics were over. I was very
excited as the days that followed passed away very slowly because all the work
I had done in view of my second participation in the Olympic Games seemed up
in the air.
I knew that this was my last chance because since a gymnast's life in short,
going to Sydney was practically impossible. I could not believe that I was very
close to missing out on my participation in Atlanta. However, my parents, doctors,
coaches and supporters encouraged me a lot during this difficult time in my
life, and so I was full of confidence that I will compete. When I arrived in the
United States all the members of the media were asking me whether I was there
as a competitor or as a spectator. My answer was that I am here to represent my
country, help my team and win medals.
In the first competition, the team event, we managed a bronze and this filled
me with a lot of courage that I will do better in the following days. In fact, in the
next competition, the all round individual event, I managed to gain the silver
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