| 21. Sabina Cojocar, former Romanian National Team Member (1999 - 2003), gymnastics. From published article in ‘Monitorul de Sibiu’, February 28, 2003. The exclusion from the national team has made a lot of important changes in Sabina Cojocar's life. Being used to the training and competition over the last years, she's started a new life, without interdictions or pressure of anyone. However, she's still training. She doesn't want to retire from competing in the top of gymnastics. Shortly after she returned from Deva, Sabina started a life that's normal for a teenager, with school, homework but also free time. Even though she was still living in another world at the beginning of this year, Sabina said that she's got used to her new life quickly. "I've got used to everything already. With school, with my schedule and with everything else. It was a little bit difficult because before I was more used to training, I didn't go to school that much. However, I've adapted quickly. I got used to going to school, to my classmates and the teachers. They all received me very well," said Sabina. Being away from Deva, Sabina can do anything, especially enjoying herself as she wants to. She can go to town, go skating or even skiing. "I'm making up for lost time. For so many years I didn't know what enjoying myself was. It was rare having time in which I could do what I wanted to. Now I go into town, I visit friends or relatives. I've been skating. I love it so much. Sadly the weather got warmer so the ice isn't as good anymore," confessed Sabina. At the same time Sabina continues to train. She's doing physical exercises and gymnastics training at the CSS gym in Sibiu. For her physical conditioning she's monitored by Constantin Bebeselea, who has a fitness club but at the gym she's confronted with the cold and the lack of good apparatus. "My conditioning is going really well. Bebe follows me and he's set up a really good program for me. I love to work out. I even love the exercises that he's given me to do. Unfortunately in the gym I can't train as I should do. First of all it's too cold and secondly the apparatus aren't that good. I'm doing the best I can," said Sabi. Even though she's enjoying that she can do whatever she likes these days, Sabina's biggest wish is to come back and perform in the top of gymnastics. "I haven't decided what I want to do. After this scandal, I haven't spoken to anyone of the leaders. I'll wait and see. In the mean time I'm training to be in the best possible form so I can go back where my place is. Anyway, I feel much better. I think that I've recovered for 70% already," she believes. During the scandal, assumptions were made that Sabina and Andreea Raducan had a quarrel. Rumours from both parties were revealed. "Words were probably thrown into the air and put into false context. Something similar has happened to me too," said Andreea. Sabina has permitted herself to be under a less strict diet. She eats almost everything that she believes to be good for her. That's why she's gained almost 6 kilos but she doesn't make a problem of it. She knows that she can lose weight quickly. "I will lose it all. It's not a big problem. I eat to get healthy now, after which I will go on a diet. In a short period of time, I will get back to my ideal weight," explains Sabina. Since the scandal started, Sabina received a lot of messages of encouragement, especially from her fans abroad. Over the last two weeks, she's received no less than 200 emails. At the same time, Sabina started to collect all the newspapers that reported about her. |