Zero Tolerance

I've never been much of a sports fan, especially around the football (soccer) season. When everyone around me was busy cheering for their favorite teams, all I could look forward to was a swift end to the world championship: the water cooler talk needed some new topics.

Back in middle school, I would occasionally watch the artistic gymnastics championships. Admitedly, the main reason may have had something to do with Sailor Moon being cancelled during the season. Not that I didn't enjoy all show more the cool tumbling...

Andreea Raducan tumbling on the floor

I've actually had my eye on Andreea Raducan's autobiography for a while now, but somehow never really stumbled on it in libraries. As a matter of fact, if it hadn't been for the 2017 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, I still wouldn't have it. The medals not being for sale, this was the next best thing.

Reading it in the aftermath of the Larry Nassar hearings, I couldn't help but wince every time weight issues, or harsh reprimands were being mentioned. Especially when they were happening in the context of the events of the 2000 Olympic Games.

Just having her all-around medal taken away was dramatic enough, but when Andreea started to mention how the gymnasts were encouraged not to eat before their competitions, and how she would be feeling high on endorphins anyway... Well, things rapidly veered into creepy territory for me. I say all that, even though there is no trace of reproach anywhere in this book for either of her coaches.

Andreea Raducan mid-air

I can understand not eating a few hours before the competition. But not eating anything all day before, when she had to compete in the early afternoon?! That didn't sound quite right to me.

The book's biggest flaw however, was its atrocious translation. It reads as if it had been written in Romanian, but using English words. And that's before we come to the numerous typos and grammatical errors, that should've been caught during editing. If I ever wanted a refund for a book, this was it.

He wanted a boy - probably a boy who would become a football player, but that was not to be. A girl was born instead - a girl so similar to him with the same characteristics and looks. The choice was gymnastics instead of football.

Listen mister, this is performance, not therapeutic gymnastics.

I had emotions, but also a huge trust in myself. I knew how to focus extremely well and to perform professionally.

Score: 2.6 / 5 stars
I fervently wish I had bought the original version, whose undertone I could recognize in the translation. As awkward as the translation sounds in English, a literal re-translation to Romanian actually makes the book sound truly engaging. And that's its saving grace.

Present-day Andreea Raducan

One of the reasons I review foreign books in English, is because I secretly hope that they'll one day inspire someone to translate them. Or retranslate them, as the case may be. Please. please, with cherry on top, let this book be translated by someone who can speak English naturally, and does not use Google Translate exclusively.
Note to self: next time get the championship mascot. show less