Radio Romania International Sports club

Romanian award-winning rower Leon Rotman’s 90th anniversary

Radio România Internațional, 24.07.2024, 13:45

We have recently celebrated one of Romania’s greatest athletes of all time, rower Leon Rotman. He was born on July 22, 1934. Rotman was the only Romanian athlete to have won two gold medals in the same edition of the Olympic games, in Melbourne, in 1956. Today, Leon Rotman is the veteran of Romanian Olympic champions.

Rotman was born in Bucharest’s old Dudesti district, into the family of a Jewish tradesman. At the age of 15, when still an apprentice with the “Timpuri Noi” plants, he began training in Flacara Sports club’s wrestling hall, being one of the 67-kilogram category hopefuls.

In 1952, when he found himself on the shores of Floreasca lake, Leon Rotman discovered the nautical sports. Shortly afterwards he would become a member of Dinamo Bucharest’s kayak canoe section. Leon Rotman was quick to persuade his coaches his place was in the men’s canoe single boat. Rotman rapidly won a couple of races in national competitions so he was selected as member of the delegation that represented Romania at the Olympic Gams in Melbourne, in 1956.

Three of the four rowing medals went to the Romanians who had to problem outperforming their challengers from Russia and Hungary, then the dominating countries in rowing.

Leon Rotman’s first reported win was in the 10,000m race. There were some issues with Rotman’s registration for the competition, give than his boat had a slight twist, unruly according to the organizers. Rotman was given another boat, but that also had a problem: it was longer than officially stipulated. The canoe was literally shortened with a saw.

Rotman proved himself as a powerful and talented competitor during the race, defeating the favourite rowers to winning the 10,000m race, Hungary’s Janos party and the Soviet Genady Bukharin. Rotman finished the race 80 meters ahead of his runner-up rower, Janos Parti.

The men’s 1000m canoe single race followed, with Rotman being once again the undisputed favorite to winning the race. Rotman conformed all predictions and again won the race, this time being followed suit by Hernek. Just like on the 10,000m race, the bronze medal went to Bukharin. The third gold medal in Melbourne was won by Alexe Dumitru and Simion Ismailciuc, in the men’s 1000m canoe double race.
In 1960 as part of the Rome Olympics, Romanian rowers won a single medal. The performer was yet again Leon Rotman, who walked away with the bronze medal he won in the men’s 1000m canoe single race.