Nude gymnast show sparks row
2002-12-15 12:58
Tokyo - Japan's gymnastics chiefs are to lodge a formal protest with their Romanian counterparts after double Olympic gold medallist Lavinia Milosovici filmed a nude performance near Tokyo, local media reported on Sunday.
Five-times world champion Milosovici (26) and two other female Romanian gymnasts performed naked on competition-standard apparatus such as the balance beam in a DVD filmed in Chiba prefecture.
The performance was partially broadcast in a recent late-night show on a private television network here.
The Japanese Gymnastic Association are considering barring Romania from an international junior competition in Yokohama next year.
"Even if she has retired from competition, her act is a disgrace to gymnastics," said Koji Takizawa (60) executive director of the national association, according to the Jiji and Kyodo news agencies.
"We would like to bring the matter to world attention through the International Gymnastics Federation," he added.
The Romanian trio had earlier appeared in a nude picture book and magazines published in Japan.
"It is dreadful to imagine children believing that you can make money by winning a medal and posing nude," said Keiko Ikeda (69) who heads the country's junior gymnastics federation.
Milosovici won the floor exercise and vault titles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA