Gymnastics has been introduced to the Dunedin games for the first time and it has given a boost to membership at Dunedin gymnastic clubs.
Luciana emigrated to New Zealand with husband Dragos eight years ago.
"It was a lifestyle choice to come to Dunedin," Luciana said.
"We wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of a big city like Bucharest. We were seeking a more peaceful life and the chance to do things outdoors."
Romania is a powerhouse of world gymnastics along with Russia, China and the United States.
The sport in Romania has a similar status to rugby in New Zealand.
Under the Communist regime much state money was put into the sport.
But the pair had no regrets when the communist regime fell 20 years ago.
"It was good that it ended," Dragos said.
"It was a very big social experiment that lasted too long."
Luciana (39), an occupational therapist at Dunedin Hospital, competed in the sport from 1981 to 1985 and won a gold and silver medal at Romanian championships.
Her best international performance was to win a bronze medal in the ribbon at the Polish international.
Luciana was on the verge of a major breakthrough when she gave up the sport.
"My coach left us," Luciana said.
"She decided not to come back to Romania after the world championships in Italy."
Luciana switched direction after that and trained as a physiotherapist.
Since arriving in Dunedin, the Blagas have been involved with the sports community.
Dragos (37), an engineer at Fisher and Paykel, is the commodore of the Otago Trailer Yacht Squadron.
Luciana coaches rhythmic gymnastics at the Southern Rhythmic Gymnastics Club with Keita McGowan and is a member of the southern regional board for Gymnastics Sports New Zealand.
The best-performed club members at national championships are Michaela Walsh, who won a level 7 gold medal, the group that won a silver medal, and Shannon Thorsnes, who was fifth in level 5.
Luciana's entry into the Masters Games came from a dare with her pupils.
"I told them that I would compete in the Masters Games if they all qualified for the New Zealand championships," she said.
Luciana has enjoyed the challenge of returning to competition.
"It is great to get my fitness back," she said.
"But I had to convince three others to do it with me."
The other members of the group are Pip Hanna, Vicky Begg and Kate Greeve.
They are coached by McGowan for the individual and group routines.
Luciana intends to have a public performance in front of the Southern Gymnastics Academy before the Masters Games.
"It makes a big difference to your performance to be in front of an audience," Luciana said.
"That is where the buzz comes from."
Luciana is confident in her own mind that she can perform up to a reasonable standard.
"But my body is telling me that I'm not quite there yet," she said.
"It's been hard training for the Masters Games, but it has been fun working with the group of my peers. It's my first competition since I stopped competing in Romania in 1985. I'm looking forward to it. It's been fun."
Dragos won four Romanian yachting titles before coming to New Zealand and sailed in regattas is Germany, Greece, Croatia and Bulgaria.
He was a member of the University Nautical Club in Bucharest and his most notable performance was to finish third in the Romanian Federation's Tomis Trophy in 2001.
Dragos is too young to compete in yachting at the Masters Games but will be a volunteer at the gymnastics.
