The latest European Wrestling Championships
Wrestling has been part of the modern Olympic Games for more than 100 years
Florin Orban, 26.04.2023, 13:45
Wrestling was first included in the Olympic programme as early as 1904 during the Olympics in St. Louis, but werent part of the Olympics in Stockholm in 1912. Since the 1920 edition in Anvers, wrestlers have been a constant presence in the Olympic Games. Wrestlers from Romania made their debut at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and since then they have reaped 34 medals, 7 gold, 8 silver and 19 bronze. The first medalist was Francisc Horvath, who reaped bronze in the free-style event in Melbourne 1956.
The first gold medal for Romania was obtained Greek-Roman wrestler Dumitru Pârvulescu in Rome in 1960. Romania hasnt obtained an Olympic gold medal in this discipline since 1988, when Vasile Puscasu compelled recognition in the 100 kilogram category in Seoul. Although next year well be celebrating 20 years since the introduction of womens wrestling in the Olympic Games, Romanias women representatives havent claimed an Olympic medal yet.
However, wrestling lovers have pinned their hopes on Romanias women representatives for the next years Olympics in Paris as at the latest wrestling competition in Zagreb, Croatia, four out of the five medals won by Romania were in the womens competition. Andreea Ana, in the 55 kilogram category and Alexandra Anghel, in the 72, stepped onto the first step of the podium while Catalina Axente, in the 76 kilogram, Krista Incze in the 65 and Denis Mihai in the 55 kilogram category of the mens event became bronze medalists.
On of the Romanian wrestlers standing chances of winning a medal in Paris is the 23-year-old Andreea Ana who has so far walked away with four medals from the European Championships. She won bronze in Bucharest in 2019 and in Warsaw two years later, and also became gold medalist in Budapest last year.
Another athlete, who could put up a good show in Paris, is Alexandra Anghel holder of the European bronze in Kaspiysk, Russia in 2018. She also won a bronze medal in Belgrade last year.
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