We have recently celebrated one of Romania\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
Rotman was born in Bucharest\u2019s 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\u2019s wrestling hall, being one of the 67-kilogram category hopefuls.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s kayak canoe section. Leon Rotman was quick to persuade his coaches his place was in the men\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Leon Rotman\u2019s first reported win was in the 10,000m race. There were some issues with Rotman\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
Rotman proved himself as a powerful and talented competitor during the race, defeating the favourite rowers to winning the 10,000m race, Hungary\u2019s Janos party and the Soviet Genady Bukharin. Rotman finished the race 80 meters ahead of his runner-up rower, Janos Parti. <\/p>\n
The men\u2019s 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\u2019s 1000m canoe double race.
\nIn 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\u2019s 1000m canoe single race. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We have recently celebrated one of Romania\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":276923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40940],"tags":[],"coauthors":[116693],"class_list":["post-792816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n