Famous Romanian Gymnasts

Aurelia Dobre is a former artistic gymnast known for her impressive accomplishments in the sport. She was the 1987 world all-around champion, excelling in balance beam, vault, and floor exercise. Dobre also achieved five perfect 10s at the 1987 World Championships. She was a key member of the Romanian teams that won silver at the 1988 Olympics and the 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Unfortunately, her career was cut short due to injuries and a growth spurt. Dobre's legacy includes being one of the top gymnasts in the world during her competitive years.

Nadia Comăneci is a Romanian retired gymnast known for her exceptional achievements in the sport. She made history by being the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games. Throughout her career, she won a total of nine Olympic medals and four World Artistic Gymnastics Championship medals. Comăneci's artistry and grace revolutionized gymnastics in the mid-1970s, earning her global fame. She continues to inspire and contribute to the sport through her work and collaborations with gymnastics organizations.

Larisa Andreea Iordache is a former Romanian artistic gymnast known for her exceptional skills and success in international competitions. She has represented Romania at multiple Olympic Games and World Championships, winning numerous medals in events such as team competitions, all-around, floor exercise, beam, and vault. Throughout her career, Iordache has been recognized for her talent and achievements, earning titles such as European champion, World medalist, and Universiade champion. She is regarded as one of the most decorated gymnasts in European competition history.

Romanian gymnast Daniela Silivaș-Harper is a highly decorated former athlete known for her exceptional achievements in artistic gymnastics. She made history by winning medals in every event at the 1988 Summer Olympics and being the first gymnast to win three Olympic and World individual titles on three different apparatus. Silivaș' career was marked by her technical excellence, difficult routines, and artistic flair. After retiring in 1991, she became a gymnastics coach in the United States and was later inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2002.

Andreea Mădălina Răducan is a retired gymnast from Romania who has transitioned into a successful career as a sports announcer and journalist. Known for her exceptional skills and presentation in gymnastics, Răducan won numerous Olympic and World Championships medals during her career. Despite a controversial doping incident that led to her disqualification from the all-around title at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she was ultimately cleared of personal wrongdoing by sports authorities. Răducan has since returned to the sports world as a respected media personality and continues to excel in her field.

Cătălina Ponor is a Romanian former artistic gymnast known for her impressive achievements in the sport. She competed in three Summer Olympic Games, winning a total of five medals, including three golds in 2004. Ponor also earned medals at World Championships and European Championships throughout her career. With a total of 23 Olympic, World, and European medals, including 12 golds, she established herself as a dominant force in gymnastics. Her exceptional career led to her induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2022.

Lavinia Milosovici is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast renowned for her exceptional success on the international competition circuit. Known as "Milo" in the gymnastics community, she is considered one of Romania's top gymnasts and among the most prolific female all-around medalists. Milosovici earned a remarkable total of 19 World Championships or Olympic medals in just six years, medaling consistently in major competitions between 1991 and 1996. She is recognized for her mastery across all four gymnastics events and her leadership qualities, culminating in her induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2011.

Simona Amânar is a highly accomplished former Romanian artistic gymnast known for her exceptional achievements in the sport. She made history as the 2000 Olympic all-around champion and earned a total of seven Olympic and ten World Championship medals throughout her career. Amânar played a crucial role in securing numerous team titles for Romania, including four consecutive world team titles from 1994 to 1999 and the 2000 Olympic team title. Her legacy in gymnastics includes having a challenging vault named after her and being inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Sandra Izbașa is a retired artistic gymnast from Romania, known for her exceptional achievements in the sport. She is a double Olympic champion, winning gold in the floor event at the 2008 Olympics and in the vault at the 2012 Olympics. Additionally, she has earned two Olympic bronze medals as part of the Romanian team. Izbașa has also secured multiple medals at both the World Championships and European Championships, showcasing her talent and dedication to gymnastics at the highest level.

Ecaterina Szabo is a former Romanian artistic gymnast who achieved significant success in her career. She won a total of 20 Olympic, world, and continental medals, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. Szabo's impressive achievements include winning gold medals in multiple individual events at the 1984 Olympics, as well as leading her team to victory at the 1987 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Her remarkable contributions to gymnastics earned her a well-deserved induction into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2000.

Gina Elena Gogean is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast known for her remarkable career spanning the late 1980s and 1990s. Throughout her time in the sport, she achieved great success, winning a total of 30 medals at various prestigious competitions including the Olympic Games, world championships, and continental championships. Gogean excelled particularly in the floor exercise, vault, and balance beam events, earning multiple world championship titles. She was also a key member of the Romanian team, contributing to their victories in world and Olympic competitions. Gogean's impressive consistency and efficiency solidified her reputation as a vital component of the Romanian gymnastics team during the 1990s.

Marian Drăgulescu is a former Romanian artistic gymnast known for his outstanding achievements in the sport. Throughout his senior gymnastics career, he amassed an impressive tally of 31 medals at prestigious events such as the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships. Notably, he secured eight gold medals at the World Championships and ten gold medals at European Championships. Drăgulescu excelled in vault and floor exercises, earning multiple world championships and Olympic medals. His legacy includes having a gymnastics move named after him in the Code of Points and being a European all-around champion.

Teodora Ungureanu is a Romanian former gymnast known for her impressive achievements in the sport. She competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics, where she showcased her talent and dedication, earning three Olympic medals, including two silver and one bronze. Additionally, she secured a silver medal at the world championships, further solidifying her legacy as a top gymnast. Transitioning from her successful gymnastics career, Ungureanu has since excelled as a gymnastics coach, sharing her expertise and passion with aspiring athletes.

Emilia Eberle is a retired Romanian gymnast known for her remarkable achievements in the sport. She is of German-Hungarian descent and has left a lasting impact in the gymnastics world. Eberle's professional career was marked by her exceptional skills, dedication, and contributions to the sport. Her performances captivated audiences and inspired many aspiring gymnasts. Eberle's legacy continues to be remembered and celebrated in the gymnastics community, solidifying her place as a significant figure in the history of the sport.

Diana Bulimar is a highly accomplished Romanian artistic gymnast, having clinched the title of 2-time European Champion with Romania. She was a key member of the Romanian gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, contributing significantly to their bronze medal win. Bulimar's professional journey is marked by her exceptional skill, dedication, and success in the world of gymnastics. Her impressive achievements on the European stage and at the Olympics underscore her talent and commitment to excellence in the sport.

Andreea Eugenia Munteanu is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast known for her successful career in the sport. Throughout her professional life, she achieved significant milestones, including winning two European championships - a team title in 2014 and a gold in the balance beam event in 2015. She also competed at the prestigious 2014 World Championships, showcasing her talent on the international stage. Munteanu's dedication and skill in gymnastics have left a lasting impact on the sport and inspired many aspiring athletes.

Ana Maria Bărbosu is a talented Romanian artistic gymnast who has achieved significant success in her career. In 2020, she emerged as the European junior team and all-around champion, showcasing her exceptional skills and dedication to the sport. Additionally, she also secured the title of the Romanian national all-around silver medalist, further solidifying her reputation as a top gymnast in her country. With her impressive performances and achievements, Ana Bărbosu continues to make a mark in the world of artistic gymnastics.

Alexandra Marinescu is a retired Romanian Olympic artistic gymnast with an impressive professional career. She has achieved significant success in gymnastics, winning an Olympic bronze medal and two world championships with the team. Individually, she has also excelled, earning a world silver medal on beam and seven Junior European medals. In addition to her gymnastics career, she has transitioned to a new profession as a minimal electro DJ based in Bucharest, showcasing her versatility and talent in the music industry.

Maria Olaru is a former Romanian Olympic artistic gymnast known for her achievements in the sport. She has won multiple gold medals at the Olympic, World, and European levels as part of the team. Individually, she has been recognized as the all-around world champion and earned a silver medal at the Olympics. Olaru excelled particularly in the vault event, earning medals in both world and continental competitions. After retiring from gymnastics, she transitioned to a career as an assistant professor at a university's Faculty of Sports and Physical Education.

Corina Ungureanu is a renowned Romanian artistic gymnast who achieved international success during her career spanning from 1993 to 1999. She was a key member of two gold medal-winning World Championships teams, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. Known for her exceptional floor exercise routines, she clinched the title of the 1998 European Champion. Ungureanu's impressive achievements and contributions to gymnastics have solidified her legacy as a world-class athlete in the gymnastics community.

Monica Roșu is a former Romanian artistic gymnast who achieved great success during her career. She won two Olympic gold medals, one in the team event and another on the vault. Additionally, she earned a silver medal at the World Championships with the Romanian team and secured two gold medals at the European Championships in the team event and on the vault. Her impressive performances and achievements have solidified her legacy as a talented and accomplished gymnast on the international stage.

Steliana Nistor is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast who made significant contributions to the Romanian national team from 2006 to 2008. She played a pivotal role in securing team bronze medals at the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics. Nistor also achieved notable individual success, clinching silver and bronze medals at various prestigious competitions, including the World Championships and European Championships. Known for her proficiency in the balance beam and uneven bars, Nistor was recognized as a strong all-around performer during her professional gymnastics career.

Alexandra Agiurgiuculese is a highly accomplished rhythmic gymnast who competes for Italy. She has excelled on the world stage, winning silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and representing her country at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Known for her elegance, she was the first Italian gymnast to receive the prestigious Longines Prize for Elegance. Domestically, she has secured multiple national titles, including the Italian National all-around championship in 2019 and three silver medals in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Cristina Elena Grigoraș is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast known for her impressive achievements in the sport. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won gold in 1984 and silver in 1980 with the team. At the 1981 European Championships, she won four individual medals in various events. Grigoraș is renowned for a skill on the balance beam that bears her name, showcasing her mastery and innovation in gymnastics. Her professional career is marked by excellence, dedication, and a lasting impact on the sport.

Lavinia Agache is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast who had a successful career, winning multiple medals at major international events. She was coached by renowned figures in gymnastics such as Béla and Márta Károlyi and Octavian Bellu. Agache's achievements include winning a team gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and multiple silver and bronze medals at World Championships and European Championships. Despite a disappointing performance at the 1984 Olympics due to falls, she continued to participate in gymnastics shows and eventually became a gymnastics coach in the United States.

Ana Porgras, a Romanian former artistic gymnast, achieved significant success during her career. She won the balance beam gold medal at the 2010 World Championships and the uneven bars bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships, showcasing her exceptional skills and artistry. Porgras was renowned for her elegance and style, often compared to the Eastern European gymnasts of the 1980s. Her talent and grace were recognized when she received the prestigious Longines Prize for Elegance in 2011, further solidifying her legacy in the gymnastics world.

Olivia Cîmpian is a talented Romanian artistic gymnast who has achieved success at both the junior and senior levels. She has won a bronze medal with the Romanian team at the 2016 Junior European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Despite briefly expressing a desire to compete for Hungary, she ultimately decided to continue representing Romania. In addition to her gymnastics career, Cîmpian was featured in the music video for the Robin Schulz song "All We Got" in 2020, showcasing her presence beyond the gymnastics world.

Cristina Bontaş (later Tăntaru) is a Romanian former artistic gymnast known for her exceptional performances between 1987 and 1993. She excelled in floor exercise, vault, and the all-around competitions. Bontaş achieved remarkable success as a world champion on floor, a double Olympic medalist, and a six-time world medalist. She notably scored a perfect ten on floor at the 1989 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, showcasing her incredible skill and talent in the sport.

Octavian Bellu is a highly successful Romanian gymnastics coach, renowned for his leadership of the national women's artistic gymnastics team. Serving as head coach with notable interruptions, he has led the team to numerous world and Olympic titles, as well as coached many individual gold medalists. Bellu's teams have amassed an impressive total of 82 world and Olympic medals. Recognized by the World Record Academy as the world's most successful coach, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Claudia Presăcan is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast who had a successful career spanning from 1994 to 2000. She achieved significant accomplishments during her time in the sport, including winning multiple team gold medals at the World Championships and being part of the Romanian team that secured gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Known for her skill and dedication, Claudia Presăcan left a lasting impact on the gymnastics world through her impressive performances and contributions to her team's success.

Simona Păuca is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast known for her success at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She achieved gold in the balance beam event alongside her teammate, Ecaterina Szabo, showcasing a difficult and innovative routine. Additionally, Păuca secured a team gold medal and a bronze medal in the all-around competition. Following her retirement from competitive gymnastics, she transitioned into coaching, working with young athletes at her native club, Dinamo București.