Career
She is an Olympic silver medalist and a world gold and silver medalist with the team She is best known for her eponymous straddle pike jump with full turn on floor as well as for her flexibility and unique style. Popa retired in 1989.
After retiring she attended the Sport School in Bucharest from 1989 to 1991.
She graduated from University with a degree in Physical Education in 1994. She is a Master of Sports in Gymnastics (1987) and she has the National Romanian Coaching Certification Level III. Popa has been coaching since 1991.
Since 1994 she has been a recreational coach at Flicka Gymnastics, Vancouver, Canada. Popa married fellow former Romanian gymnast Flaviu Toma, longtime head coach and technical director at Flicka.
In 2009 she opened her own gym "Celestina Popa Gymnastics" in British Columbia, Canada.