Cătălina Ponor

Cătălina Ponor
— Gymnast —
Personal information
Full name Cătălina Ponor
Nickname(s) Cătă
Country represented  Romania
Born (1987-08-20) 20 August 1987
Constanța, Romania
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight 51 kg (112 lb 7 oz)
Discipline Women's artistic gymnastics
Level Senior International Elite
Club CS Dinamo București
Head coach(es) Octavian Belu
Assistant coach(es) Sandu Lucian
Former coach(es) Matei Stanei and Gabriela Dosoftei
Choreographer Mariana Bitang
Music

2004: Gia
2005: Harem
2006: Underground
2007: Dark Angel
2011: Rise
2011-2012: Requiem for a Dream

2012: Fever
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 3 1 1
World Championships 0 3 2
European Championships 7 2 1
Total 10 6 4
Representing  Romania
Olympic Games
2004 Athens Team
2004 Athens Balance Beam
2004 Athens Floor Exercise
2012 London Floor Exercise
2012 London Team
World Championships
2003 Anaheim Team
2003 Anaheim Balance Beam
2003 Anaheim Floor Exercise
2005 Melbourne Balance Beam
2007 Stuttgart Team
World Cup Final
2004 Birmingham Balance Beam
2004 Birmingham Floor Exercise
European Championships
2004 Amsterdam Team
2004 Amsterdam Balance Beam
2004 Amsterdam Floor Exercise
2005 Debrecen Balance Beam
2006 Volos Balance Beam
2012 Brussels Team
2012 Brussels Balance Beam
2006 Volos Team
2012 Brussels Floor Exercise
2006 Volos Floor Exercise

Cătălina Ponor (Romanian pronunciation: [kətəˈlina poˈnor]; born 20 August 1987) is a Romanian artistic gymnast. She won three gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, on balance beam, floor, and as part of the Romanian team. She also earned a silver medal on floor and a bronze medal as part of the Romanian team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as multiple World Championship and European Championship medals.

Early life

Ponor was born in Constanta. She started gymnastics when she was four years old.[1]

In 2002, Ponor was discovered training in Constanţa by the Romanian national team coaches Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang who invited her to train with the national team.[2]

Senior career

2003

In August, Ponor competed at the 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Anaheim, United States. She helped the Romanian team finish in second place and in event finals she placed second on balance beam scoring 9.587 and second on floor scoring 9.700.[3]

In November, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Stuttgart, Germany. She placed first on balance beam with a score of 9.587 and third on floor scoring 9.237.[4]

2004

In March, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Cottbus, Germany. She placed first on balance beam scoring 9.700 and second on floor scoring 9.575.[5]

Later in March, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Lyon, France. She placed second on balance beam scoring 9.175 and second on floor scoring 9.625.[6]

At the beginning of May, Ponor competed at the European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She helped the Romanian team finish in first place. In event finals, she placed first on balance beam scoring 9.725 and first on floor scoring 9.637.[7]

Athens Olympics

In August, Ponor competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She contributed scores of 9.412 on vault, 9.762 on balance beam, and 9.750 on floor towards the Romanian team's first place finish.[8] In event finals, she placed first on balance beam with a score of 9.787 and first on floor with a score of 9.750.[9] Ponor said, "I'm very happy for my medals. Today it was a dream that came true. I would like to thank my coaches for the courage they gave me during the competition, and for the preparation. The atmosphere was wonderful, simply unique. Adding these two titles to the team's gold is an amazing feeling. I was not afraid that I was going to lose the gold medal on Floor. When I won the gold medal on Balance Beam, I was very emotional. I had wished to win that medal forever. I became even more emotional when I won the gold medal on Floor Exercise, because it became a second gold medal, and a gold medal is very hard to get."[10] Ponor was the first female gymnast since Daniela Silivaş in 1988 and last since to win three gold medals at a single Olympics.[2]

2005

In June, Ponor competed at the European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. She placed first on balance beam with a score of 9.737 and fourth on floor with a score of 9.200.[11]

In November, Ponor competed at the 2005 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia. She placed third in the balance beam final with a score of 9.500.[12]

2006

In March, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Cottbus, Germany. She placed sixth in the floor final with a score of 13.250.[13]

In April, Ponor competed at the European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Volos, Greece. She placed first on balance beam with a score of 15.800 and third on floor with a score of 14.600.[14]

2007

In May, Ponor returned to training with Mariana Bitang. She said about Bitang, "She's the only person who can bring me back to the form I was in. She's the only coach who can guide me to a world title and another Olympic title." Bitang added, "We saw her very determined, and we were very surprised to see her appetite for competition."[15]

In July, Ponor competed at the Romanian National Championships in Ploiesti, Romania. She placed first on vault with a score of 15.062 and first on balance beam with a score of 16.500.[16]

In September, Ponor competed at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. She helped the Romanian team place third and individually she placed fourth in the balance beam final with a score of 15.700.[17]

In December, Ponor retired due to ongoing injuries.[18]

2011

In March, Ponor began training again with the Romanian national team under the newly returned coaches Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang.[18]

At the beginning of August, Ponor had a minor medical procedure to correct a congenital heart defect that was causing an arrhythmia and was able to resume training the same week. She said, "I had a congenital problem I was born with, but I went to the doctor and all is well."[19]

At the end of August, Ponor competed at the Romanian National Championships in Onesti, Romania. She placed second on balance beam scoring 15.775 and third on floor scoring 14.625.[20]

In October, Ponor competed at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. She contributed scores of 14.933 on vault, 15.166 on balance beam, and 14.633 on floor towards the Romanian team's fourth place finish and individually she placed seventh in the balance beam final with a score of 14.241.[21]

2012

In March, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha, Qatar. She placed first on balance beam with a score of 15.300 and first on floor with a score of 15.275.[22] Ponor said, "I want to do the same thing that I did in 2004. It was hard to make a comeback, but all the time I was thinking that I could do it. I will not relax till I reach my goal."[23]

In April, Ponor competed at an international meet against France in Cholet, France. She contributed scores of 14.900 on vault and 15.550 on balance beam towards the Romanian team's first place finish.[24]

Later in April, Ponor competed at an international meet against Germany and the United Kingdom in Ulm, Germany. She contributed scores of 14.750 on vault, 15.100 on balance beam, and 14.900 on floor towards the Romanian team's first place finish.[25]

In May, Ponor competed at the 2012 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Brussels, Belgium. She contributed scores of 15.033 on vault, 15.433 on balance beam, and 14.733 on floor towards the Romanian team's first place finish. In event finals, she placed first on balance beam scoring 15.300 and second on floor scoring 14.633.[26] Belu said, "You saw the reaction of the fans. A triple Olympic champion gets respect, especially if she performs like this."[27] She is the gymnast who has won the balance beam title the most times at the European Championships: 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.

In June, Ponor competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Ghent, Belgium. She won the balance beam event final with a score of 15.025.[28]

At the beginning of July, Ponor competed at an international meet against France, Germany, and Italy in Bucharest, Romania. She contributed scores of 15.000 on vault, 15.700 on balance beam, and 15.000 on floor towards the Romanian team's first place finish.[29]

London Olympics

Ponor with the 2012 Romanian Olympic team.

At the end of July, Ponor competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. She helped the Romanian team qualify to the team final[30] and individually she qualified to the balance beam final with a score of 15.033 and the floor final with a score of 14.600.[31] In the team final, she contributed scores of 15.100 on vault, 15.416 on balance beam, and 14.800 on floor towards the Romanian team's third place finish.[32] She earned the high score on balance beam during the team competition. In event finals, Ponor placed fourth on beam with a score of 15.066[33] and second on floor with a score of 15.200.[34] On balance beam, she had the same score as American Aly Raisman but after tie-breaking procedures Raisman was awarded the bronze medal. Ponor said, "I will say it again, and I want everyone to know, I will quit without regrets. I have worked every second for my team, I have worked every second for myself, I have worked every second for everybody. I have already been an Olympic champion. I will quit gymnastics with my chin up."[35]

2015

In February of 2015, Ponor registered for the anti-doping control within the FIG, which suggests that she might be returning to competition. [36]

She officially announced her comeback in early March. [37] She told WOGymnastika that by coming back for a third time, she will be risking her biggest failure. [38] She could not compete in the 2015 European Games in Baku as she was not eligible yet, but plans to compete at the 2015 World Championships.

In September Ponor made her return in competitions by competing in a friendly meet between Romania and France where she helped the romanian team place 1st.

As of September 2015, Ponor was officially added to the nominative list for the 2015 Gymnastics World Championships to be held in Glasgow, United Kingdom. [39]

Competitive history

Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
2003World Championships2nd2nd2nd
2004European Championships1st1st1st
Olympic Games1st1st1st
2005European Championships1st4th
World Championships3rd
2006European Championships2nd1st3rd
2007World Championships3rd4th
National Championships1st1st
2011World Championships4th7th
National Championships2nd3rd
2012Doha World Cup1st1st
FRA-ROU Friendly1st
GER-GBR-ROU Friendly1st
European Championships1st1st2nd
Ghent World Cup1st
ROU-FRA-GER-ITA Friendly1st
Olympic Games3rd4th2nd
2015FRA-ROU Friendly1st
2016Doha World Cup 1st
Belgium-Romania-Germany Friendly2nd

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Catalina Ponor". london2012.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Ponor returns to Games eight years later - Gymnastics News. NBC Olympics (2012-05-13). Retrieved on 2012-07-20. Archived July 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Events :: Show
  4. ↑ Events :: Show
  5. ↑ Events :: Show
  6. ↑ Events :: Show
  7. ↑ Events :: Show
  8. ↑ http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/olympics/2004/wag/teams.pdf
  9. ↑ Events :: Show
  10. ↑ Athletes :: Show
  11. ↑ 1st Individual European Championships in Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics - Debrecen 2005
  12. ↑ 38th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Melbourne (AUS)
  13. ↑ Events :: Show
  14. ↑ Events :: Show
  15. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Ponor Enlists Bitang in Comeback. Intlgymnast.com (2007-05-04). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  16. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Nistor, Popescu Win Romanian Nationals. Intlgymnast.com (2007-07-31). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  17. ↑ Events :: Show
  18. 1 2 International Gymnast Magazine Online - Ponor Poised to Rejoin Romanian Squad. Intlgymnast.com (2011-03-28). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  19. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Ponor: 'All Well' After Minor Heart Procedure. Intlgymnast.com (2011-08-05). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  20. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Porgras Takes Third Straight Romanian Title. Intlgymnast.com (2011-08-26). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  21. ↑ http://www.fedintgym.com/microsites/11Tokyo/Results/PDF/GA_Result_Book_Tokyo-Press.pdf
  22. ↑ http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/system/files/5397/original/WAG_complet.pdf?1333352451
  23. ↑ Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique : Full Story
  24. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Iordache Powers Romania to First in France. Intlgymnast.com (2012-04-21). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  25. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Iordache, Romania Unbeatable in Ulm. Intlgymnast.com (2012-04-28). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  26. ↑ http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/system/files/5489/original/ECh_WAG_Brussels_Results_Book.pdf?1336985168
  27. ↑ Casert, Raf. (2012-05-30) Belu leads Romania back into Olympic limelight - Gymnastics News. NBC Olympics. Retrieved on 2012-07-20. Archived July 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/system/files/5542/original/Results_Finals.pdf?1339501751
  29. ↑ International Gymnast Magazine Online - Romanians Rule in Bucharest Quad Meet. Intlgymnast.com (2012-07-07). Retrieved on 2012-07-20.
  30. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/qual_wag_team.pdf
  31. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/qual_wag_app_list.pdf
  32. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_team_f.pdf
  33. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_beam_f.pdf
  34. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_floor_f.pdf
  35. ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jjCf1bK0wUFnqViUxHoBJk-r27zw?docId=CNG.f9b65aa5b7d3fdf1dcca3e6ac2e9a637.21
  36. ↑ http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/site/figNews/view?id=1039
  37. ↑ http://www.wogymnast.com/2015/03/catalina-ponor-is-back.html
  38. ↑ http://www.wogymnast.com/2015/03/catalina-ponor-i-will-risk-biggest.html
  39. ↑ http://www.vavel.com/en-us/more-sports/545415-catalina-ponor-to-complete-comeback-at-world-championships.html

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