Gheorghe Predescu
University Teacher in Gymnastics
Contact details
Room: UU.1.09
Phone: +44 (0)1509 226382
Fax: +44 (0)1509 226301
Email: G.Predescu@lboro.ac.uk
Background
After graduating as a physical education teacher and gymnastics coach from the Romanian Institute of Physical Education and Sport in 1977, Gheorghe worked first in Sport College, then from 1982 at the Romanian National Centre for Men's Artistic Gymnastics, where he coached gymnasts who became members of the Romanian national team and achieved considerable success in international competitions. In 1990 he gained the highest level award in practical and theoretical gymnastics coaching with first class honours from the Romanian Academy of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest.
In 1994 his gymnasts won two gold and one silver medal at the Junior European Championships and Gheorghe came to England to coach for British Gymnastics. He worked at two English clubs, his gymnasts winning many national medals and in 2001 became Leeds National Coach for junior men's artistic gymnastics with responsibility for the 2004 European Junior Championships, where four gymnasts reached the finals and one gained a gold medal.
As well as being a British international performance coach in men's artistic and a high performance coach in women's artistic gymnastics, Gheorghe is a FIG accredited international judge and in summer 2005 gained the FIG Level III (highest) Award for Coaching.
He has played an active role in changing the competition system in British gymnastics and his theoretical work includes articles published in Romanian and British gymnastics magazines. Gymnasts he has coached are now all over the world, involved in activities such as coaching, administration and the Cirque du Soleil.