Olympic perspectives – Rowing
Romanian rowing ahead of the 2021 Olympics
Florin Orban, 14.05.2020, 13:45
Romania stands among the worlds elite countries when it comes to rowing. Romanian crews results in Olympic events are definitely noteworthy. The first Olympic medals that went to Romanian crews in an Olympic competition were those won in Munich, in 1972. Back then, the coxed pair crew, made of Petre Ceapura, Ladislau Lovrenschi and Ştefan Tudor stepped onto the third step of the podium. For the first time in an Olympic contest, womens events were officially approved of in Montreal, in 1976. The Romanian womens crews lived up to everyones expectations and in the coxed four event, stepped also onto the third step of the podium. The following edition of the Olympics, held in Moscow in 1980, saw Romanias Sanda Toma winning the first gold medal, in the single scull event. From 1984 to 2004, Romanias women crews dominated the Olympic competitions. All told, 17 more gold medals were won by Romanias competing delegations. We recall that at the Los Angeles Olympics, five Olympic medals went to Romanias womens crews, while one such medal was won by one of Romanias mens crews. Romania last scooped an Olympic medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when Georgeta Andrunache and Viorica Susanu won the womens coxless pair event. Overall, 2016 was the year when Romanian rowing last won a medal as in Rio de Janeiro, Romanias womens coxed eight crew walked away with the bronze medal.
All things considered, things are looking up regarding Romanias chances to resume a world-level leading position, as the more so as in 2021, the Olympic Games will be hosted by Japan, between July 23rd and August 8th. No less than seven Romanian crews have already qualified: the mens four sculls, lightweight womens double sculls, womens straight four, mens coxless pair, womens coxless pair, womens double sculls and mens double sculls.
There were high expectations regarding Romanias womens coxed eight crew, yet in 2019 the crew came in last in the World Championship final in Linz, Austria, wasting the opportunity to book a straight qualification in the competition. The coxed eight could have had another chance to secure their qualification in the Lucerne Regatta, but this years edition of the event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Nevertheless…there could be another chance for the Romanians.
(Translation by Eugen Nasta)
