Romanian medals at the European Championships in Glasgow

Romanian athletes have walked home with gold, silver and bronze medals at the European Rowing and Gymnastics Championships hosted by the city of Glasgow in the UK

Leyla Cheamil, 06.08.2018, 12:19

Boasting a long-standing tradition, Romanian gymnastics holds pride of place in Romanian sports and that for a good reason. For quite a few decades now, the Romanian school of gymnastics has given the whole world such legend names as Nadia Comaneci, the world’s first gymnast to have been granted ten in all events she competed in. Comaneci succeeded the performance at the Olympic Games in Montreal, in 1976. Also, Nadia is the world’s only gymnast to have won the European title three times, in the all-round event.

However, Romanian gymnastics has been adrift for quite some time now, while Romanian athletes’ performances have been increasingly lackluster, save for a couple of exceptions. At the European Gymnastics Championship in Glasgow, Denisa Golgota Sunday walked away with silver in the floor event. A junior gymnast with a good track record, in Glasgow, Denisa Golgota competed in the first major seniors’ competition. Moreover, Golgota was the only Romanian to have reached as far as the apparatus pieces finals. Gold went to French gymnast Melanie de Jesus, while stepping onto the third step of the podium was Belgium’s Axelle Klinckaert.

The 16-year old young gymnast who succeeded to yet again take Romanian gymnastics among the world’s elite a couple of hours earlier had won bronze in the vault event. Coming in first was Hungary’s Boglarka Devai, while Russia’s Angelina Melnykova walked away with silver. In Glasgow, the juniors’ competition was held concurrently with the seniors’ competition. At the tender age of 14, Ioana Stanciulescu succeeded to step onto the highest step of the podium in the floor event. Stanciulescu proved her mettle to the theme of the “Beauty and the Beast” original movie soundtrack.

Stepping onto the second step of the podium was Italian gymnast Giorgia Villa, while third came Amelie Morgan of Great Britain. The fact that Ioana Stanciulescu won gold means that Romania still retains the European title in the floor event. We recall that in 2016 the gold medal went to Denisa Golgota.

Also in Glasgow, at the European Championships, Romanian rowers are topping the medals table, after winning 7 medals — 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. On Sunday, the Romanians won silver in the men’s double scull and a bronze medal, in the men’s coxed eight. We recall that on Saturday, the Romanians had won three gold medals, one in the women’s coxed eight, another one in the men’s four scull, while the third gold medal went to the women’s double scull crew.

Romania’s medal tally also includes silver in the women’s four scull event and bronze in the men’s double scull event. New generations of athletes come from behind, hoping they would compel recognition in the world of rowing.