Finally Amanda!!
Romanians Coach Contestants on Sunday's 'Amazing Race' Written by John Crumlish | Friday, February 27, 2009
Gymnasts and coaches from Romania's Lia Manoliu Sports Complex in Bucharest will help contestants swing, turn and leap toward a $1 million prize in Sunday's episode of "The Amazing Race," airing on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Although several of the two-person teams in the Emmy Award-winning reality competition program have athletic backgrounds, their poise and dexterity will be put to a new test in Romania — on the balance beam. Team members, wearing competition attire in Romanian team colors, will need to successfully perform a "routine" before they will be allowed to learn their next destination.
"They must go correct and not fall," explains Liliana, a coach at the club, on host Phil Keoghan's video diary that previews the episode.
Sunday's episode of the show will feature footage of "The Amazing Race" contestants training with Romanian coaches, as well as several young Romanian gymnasts practicing their own routines.
"They can walk on their hands and do unbelievable things," notes Keoghan in his video diary.
Now in its 14th season, "The Amazing Race" pits two-person teams against one another in a series of physical and mental challenges that take them on a 22-day trek around the world. Couples who are farthest behind are gradually eliminated, and the first team to arrive at the final destination will win $1 million.
Sunday's episode entitled "I'm Not Wearing That Girl's Leotard!" is the third episode of the season.
Third in the women's team competition at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Romania has a rich gymnastics tradition. Nadia Comaneci won the all-around title at the 1976 Olympics, and Simona Amanar placed first at the 2000 Games. The country has two world all-around champions in Aurelia Dobre (1987) and Maria Olaru (1999).
The Romanian women won the Olympic team title in 1984, 2000 and 2004; and the world team title in 1979, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
After watching the young Romanian gymnasts train during the show's taping. Keoghan asked coach Liliana if some of the complex's gymnasts might someday compete in the Olympic Games. "I hope so," Liliana said.
"Me, too," Keoghan replied. "I would love to say that I saw them here."
Contestant Amanda Blackedge must complete a series of gymnastics exercises at the Complexul Sportiv National Lia Manoliu in Bucharest, Romania, in order to receive the next clue, on "The Amazing Race."
