Notes From Atlanta
 Thursday, December 19, 2002

Three Romanian gymnasts, all former Olympic medal winners, have been banned by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation for appearing nude in a Japanese adult show.

I certainly hope safe sex and birth control was used if anything sexual happened. However, I can't think of much to say other than "where can I get a copy of the tape?"

Independent Online reports:

The trio had "tarnished the image of gymnastics" with their naked performance on apparatus such as the balance beam in a DVD filmed in Chiba prefecture outside Tokyo...

Another story here.

The gymnasts, including Sydney Gold Medalist Claudia Presecan, Double Olympic gold medalist Lavinia Milosovici and Corina Ungureanu, have not denied appearing nude, but did say the images have been doctored.

Lavinia Milosovici on the floor exercise.

I can see google getting busy when this story breaks.


      your note []



Cippollini's and Pantani's merger of teams is now off again.

The idea of these two Italian superstars on the same cycling team has been floated around for a few months. The Italian people would love it! The top Italian climber and the best sprinter in the world, who happens to be Italian, on the same team! The negotiations have completely bogged down. Pantani has refused to allow his image to be marketed by the team. The deal looks dead. Cipollini's new team will be known as Domina Vacanze-Elitron-RDZ. Pantani, who has not won a race in many years, has an uncertain future.

In other cycling news 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich is still entertaining offers from some teams. It is uncertain where the young troubled star will end up.


      your note []