Touted as "The Next Nadia," Nadia herself couldn't keep her eyes off Alexandra Marinescu. Comaneci wrote an article in the premier gymnastics magazine "International Gymnast," that included a somewhat-controversial interview, writing "Her name is rarely mentioned without the word Atlanta in the same sentence."

     Very much a normal teenager, she loved listening to music and spending time with best friend Aurelia Gheba. She began the sport at the age of four. At the same time she was also involved in swimming but decided to make the switch to gymnastics, which ended up being a good decision! She was first exposed to the international spotlight after being a part of Romania's 1995 World Championships team and winning the 1996 Junior European Championships title. A silver on the balance beam, her favorite event, at the 1996 World Championships solidified her position as an Olympic all-around contender. But the success everyone thought she was capable of was not to be.

     Trained by Benone Pereteanu in Bucharest, Marinescu was often the victim of politics by her own coaches. Head coach Octavian Belu replaced Marinescu with teammate Simona Amanar in the 1996 Olympic All-Around. Although Marinescu was given a spot in the balance beam final by Lavinia Milosivici (who qualified above Alexandra), she was unable to make the most of the opportunity and had perhaps the worst routine of her career with two falls. Bad luck would follow again at the 1997 Worlds, when Belu would again replace her with Simona Amanar. The latter would be her last major competition, as she was diagnosed with scoliosis and forced to retire in 1997.

Birthday: March 19, 1981
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Family: mother Anca, father Alexandru, dog Pichi
Began Gymnastics: age four
Best Results:
1994 Jr. Europeans - 1st AA, 6th UB, 1st BB, 3rd FX
1995 Worlds - 1st Team, 4th UB, 4th BB
1995 Olympic Test Event - 1st AA
1996 Jr. Europeans - 1st AA, 6th VT, 2nd UB, 1st BB, 3rd FX
1996 Catania Cup - 3rd AA
1996 Swiss Cup - 4th UB, 2nd BB, 3rd FX
1996 Worlds - 2nd BB
1996 Olympics - 3rd Team, 8th BB
1997 American Cup - 5th AA
1997 Worlds - 1st Team, 6th UB

Photos © AP and Alexandra Marinescu

VT: Hristakieva UB: Jaeger, overshoot; giant full, giant full, tucked full-in BB: press handstand; flip flop, full twist; 2 flip flops, 2 layouts; side somi; double stag, Yang Bo; 2 flip flops, full-in FX: whip, flip flop, tucked full-in; Rudi; switch ring; 2 1/2 twist, punch front; triple twist