Olympic Games Preview

A Preview of Romanias Participation in the Olympic Games in Rio

Florin Orban, 03.08.2016, 12:05

The Romanian delegation traveling to Rio for the Olympics includes 96 athletes and 4 substitutes. Three sports disciplines have provided more than half of the total number of athletes in the Romanian delegation. A total of 57 athletes come from athletics, rowing and womens handball.

In athletics, Marian Oprea boasts the greatest number of medals, in a pool of regulars counting 22 athletes. In 2004, Oprea walked away with silver in the Athens Olympics triple jump event, a career best that he has not matched ever since. However, Oprea retained his position among Europes top-notch athletes. His most recent feat was in 2015, when he won bronze in the Indoor European Championships in Prague.

36-year old Elena Daniela Carlan is the most experienced athlete in Romanias team. She takes part in the Olympics for the second time in her career, following the Athens Olympics 12 years ago. Back then Daniela competed in the 20-kilometer race walk event, where she came in 37th. In 2005 Daniela Carlan took up long-distance running. In the Krakow Marathon in 2015 Daniela Carlan clocked 2 hours, 43 minutes and 38 seconds.

Rowing is taking no less than 19 Romanian athletes to Rio. Attention–grabbing as usual in the case of rowing are the womens events, especially the 2 coxless pairs and the 8 plus 1 events. Unfortunately, as of late performances in Romanian rowing have been below par. The coxed eight crew has succeeded a last-moment qualification this year, with their satisfactory run in the Lucerne regatta held in May. In the main contest that could have booked their ticket for Rio, the World Championships held in France last year, the Romanians did not even succeed to qualify for the A finals. A many-time winner of the Olympic and world title, Romanias 8+ crew had been a regular presence in the Olympics for 40 years.

Romanian womens handball team is one of the main favorites to win the Olympics. However, the group they will be part of is a tough one, with Romania due to play Norway, Brazil, Spain, Montenegro and Angola. We should keep in mind however that Romania has the worlds third best team after last years World Championships. The leader of the present generation, Cristina Neagu, was designated the worlds best woman handball player in 2015.