TCG Junior Watch: Roxana Popa
Gymnast: Roxana Popa
Country: Spain
Recommended by: Violeta C.
Who is she?
Roxana Popa is a junior Spanish gymnast who was born in Romania in 1997.
Where does she train and with whom?
She currently trains at the Spanish National Training Center (CARD). She is a part of the CGA Pozuelo in Madrid.
Does she have much competitive experience?
She has experience with smaller competitions, the most important is the 2012 Junior Europeans. She qualified in 2nd position for vault final with a huge DTY and a FTY, and advanced to the AA final. She was also the third reserve for the floor final.
What makes her an exciting prospect?
Her potential D scores and her powerful tumbling. She has had a huge DTY for a couple of years, an exciting skills such as a full twisting DLO off bars and a full in on floor.
When do you think we will get to see her in competition next?
We will probably see her this incoming Europeans on her senior debut. As the most promising junior she will likely be an important part of the Spanish team for the Rio de Janeiro cycle.
What are you hoping she will develop in the coming years?
I’m hoping she stays healthy as she already had a few injuries last years. I also hope she can increase her difficulty on floor and bars and show a second vault.
What routine of hers should we watch?
Her floor (from the junior European in qualifications)
Link: http://www.
Her vault (Spanish championships 2012)
Link: http://www.youtube.com/
Her beam (from the junior European in qualifications)
Link: http://www.
What else do we need to know about her?
She is nicknamed “The Spanish Nadia Comaneci” and was featured on a emotional documentary of Canal Plus España that showed her sadness about not getting onto the podium because she didn’t yet have Spanish nationality during the 2008 Nationals, despite winning everything.
Junior Watch Gymnast Profiles;
Tabea Alt (GER) READ
Stefania Stanila (ROM) READ
Eythora Thorsdottir (NED) READ
Bailie Key (USA) READ
Noemi Makra (HUN) READ
Darcy Norman (AUS) READ
Pilar Rubagotti (ITA) READ
Lou Nina (CHI) READ
Charlotte Sullivan (NZL) READ
Chantysha Netteb (NED) READ
Maelys Plessis (FRA) READ
Raisa Batyrova (RUS) READ
Kim Janas (GER) READ
Maria Kharenkova (RUS) READ
Angel Romaeo (GBR/WALES) READ
Lara Mori (ITA) READ
Polina Schennikova (USA) READ
Shallon Olsen (CAN) READ
If anyone would like to contribute to Junior Watch, please follow the questions in this article or email the editor, Brigid McCarthy, at listaday@gmail.com for a form sheet. Also, please contact the editor before beginning to say who you will be writing about. This ensures there will be no double-ups.
Join in the conversation on Facebook on The Couch Gymnast’s News Page.
Join the TCG Twitter
