Oana Ban - 2002 Worlds Finals - Balance Beam

[DJKiara88]

How to live after a woman with such a great sport homely body? A small increase. No neck and no legs, some broad shoulders. Poor Oana!

[AngelicPhantom]

Amazing. I cannot believe how far she managed to pull it back after that mount.

She shows stunning poise.

[TheRomanitza]

bravo oana great gymnast !!!

[justinmjb]

She def looks part midget. I know female gymnasts are all short, but she REALLY looks like her mom or dad was a midget and then she came out. Also where is her neck? She looks like she wasn't born with a neck:(

[abrahamnextel]

The commentator said at 0:26 that she can even do a 1 and a half twist.... does somebody know if theres is a video of Oana performing that skill????

[cristhianmere]

MUY BUENO!!

[Hasoginy]

I love her full twisting tuck back! Out of so many gymnasts who do it, she stands out for doing it beautifully.

[benrobinson77]

great set ... you could tell her mount was going to be off by how her round-off was kinda off to the side on the approach. wasnt really "over the top"

[javajunkie6]

wow, could she really do a 1.5 on beam? did she ever compete it, because i'd love to see it!

[missjpace]

@javajunkie6 i would pay to see this! a blind landing on the beam? crazy!!

[benrobinson77]

@javajunkie6 yeah me too! i wonder what value it would be worth

[keli59]

what a shame that mount :(

the rest of the routine was perfect and AMAZING!! she deserved the gold

[mrparke007]

You know, her mechanics are truly superb. She rotates the full perfectly, her bhs to layout series is very rhythmic, and she gets incredible lift on her double back. She really embodies the word "amplitude" with her acrobatic elements.

[TTTAAARRRIIIKKK]

I think oana was not a robot... i actually think she is a pretty good dancer

[gymfan2005]

she was an inspirations for many Romanian gymnasts!!

[fobsi]

My all time favorite gymnast!!!

[xplosive08]

me tooooo.

i send her letter few years ago,and she reply to me

[piskoun]

Anyone seen that one and a half salto?

[GymMaverick]

Nice full! Next to Sabina Cojocar, she was one of the only watchable rombots of the last quad.

[haleusca]

"Rombots", sure... Being tremendously consistent and kicking US&Russian ass for two consecutive Olympic Games turns two of the greatest gymnastics teams ever into "rombots" squads. What a sore loser you are!

[Darkangel127]

It's safe to say that Romania is by far the best team in the world and has been so for more than 15 years. And even if it looks in crisis right now, I'm sure that the Romanian gymnasts will kick ass in Beijing, as they have always had. Lets not forget that Romania is the most consistent team in history!

[haleusca]

I'm not really sure about Beijing - the current team somehow lack in depth. Coach Forminte himself does not expect a very strong showing from the girls this year. But he's determined to prove Romania still matters in women's gymnastics. And I certainly hope he succeeds.

[gymfan2005]

no doubt some talent will come...but he needs help from other previous champs...even help from mariana bitang or someone!!

[gymfan2005]

ohh lets hope so as well after the olympic successes!

[romaniangymnast]

If anyone was a Rombot, ever, it was Maria Olaru.

[AnnaPavlovaFan]

Really? Watch her 2000 FX routine! Amazing choreography and interpretation. If a country deserves to be called robotic, that's definitely USA.

[QueenieQue]

Firstly, Romania still has to speak for Gogean, Milosovici, and Amanar. Secondly, to call a gymnast robotic is a bit harsh. Can't we just avoid calling any nation robotic?

[AnnaPavlovaFan]

Fair enough, robotic is indeed harsh for anyone, although it can also mean great consistency and composure (something that some countries lack). And if we want to do justice to everyone, for every Gogean, Milo, Amanar and Nistor there were just as many gymnasts who had/have wonderful dance: Dobre, Silivas, Voinea, Marinescu, Raducan, Sofronie, Ponor, Pogras and the list goes on...

[QueenieQue]

True, true. I just think every nation has their stars, and I wouldn't say that America is any exception. Kathy Johnson, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, and I would argue, Nastia Liukin, may not be your favorites, but they are not robotic.

[AnnaPavlovaFan]

Kathy Johnson and Nastia Liukin ARE my favourites! ;-D

I would also add Hollie Vise, Courtney McCool and Ivana Hong to your list. Their dance is decent at the very least!

[QueenieQue]

Of course! There are plenty of graceful American dancers (though my all-time favorite is Silivas). I just love artistic gymnastics!