spotted
Nistor spots one of
her students (above)
and leaps at the 2008
European championships (below).
NISTORINNORWAY
2007 world all-around silver medalist Steliana Nistor has ventured north from her
native Romania to share her gymnastics expertise with the gymnasts she is now training in
Norway. Nistor worked as an
assistant coach at Drammen Turn
until 2011, when she began
coaching at Hammer Turn in
Fjellhamar. “I feel very happy and
satisfied,” she says.
THOMAS SCHRE YER
Nistor retired from competition
after the 2008 Beijing Olympics,
where she placed fifth all-around.
She studied physical education,
sport and coaching in her home-
town of Sibiu, and was a repre-
sentative of sportswear products,
until fellow Romanian Ciprian
Popescu called her from Norway
to offer her a job at Drammen
Turn. She credits her university
studies, and knowledge she
gained from school coaches and
Popescu, for the confident founda-
tion on which she is building her
new life in Norway.
“Norwegians,
including the
girls I train,
are listeners.”
