EP 55: Countdown to LA28 with Olympic Gold Gymnastics Champion Daniela Silivas

The countdown to LA28 has officially begun, and there's no better way to kick it off than looking back at the gymnast who made history in Seoul. Three-time gold medalist Daniela Silivas joins Dance Dad with John Corella to explain how ballet training shaped her gymnastics long before LA28 was even a headline.

Daniela grew up training in communist-era Romania, where her first year of gymnastics consisted entirely of ballet, flexibility, and strength training, seven days a week. She breaks down how gymnasts use dance training to build the control that shows up later on beam and floor, the same foundation today’s LA28 hopefuls are building, whether they realize it or not.

She also revisits her floor performances at the 1987 World Championships, where she earned three perfect 10s across the competition, and the story behind the skill now known as the Silivaș mount on balance beam. That routine helped carry her to Seoul, where she medaled on every event and became one of the most decorated gymnasts in Olympic history.

As the world turns its attention to LA28, Daniela's story is a reminder of what it takes to get there. Listen to the full episode to hear how a ballet training that began when she was five years old in Romania turned into three Olympic gold medals, and why the fundamentals still matter more than the flash.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Three-Time Gold Medalist Daniela Silivas

02:24 Winning World Championship Gold As A Team

06:51 Inside The Legendary 1987 Romanian Team

10:59 Why Ballet Comes Before Gymnastics In Romania

16:24 Performing Compulsory Routines For Judges And Crowds

20:27 Throwing A New Skill At The Olympics

27:33 Falling In Love With Gymnastics At Five