What are some of the most famous athletes in the world? Are they also Romanian? Romania had some of the most memorable and important athletes in the world. Dracula is here to help you discover them.
Nadia Comaneci
Nadia made history when at the age of 14, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, when she achieved the remarkable feat of scoring the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history. She accomplished this on the uneven bars during the team compulsory portion of the competition. This catapulted her to global fame and established her as one of the most iconic figures in gymnastics history.
Fun fact: Since nobody has managed until then to get a perfect 10, the board from the Olympics showed ‘1.0’ in points
Ilie Nastase
Ilie Năstase is a former Romanian professional tennis player, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his era (during his career in the 1960s and 1970s).
He won numerous titles, including Grand Slam championships, the French Open singles title in 1973 and the US Open singles title in 1972. Additionally, he was a finalist at Wimbledon, reaching the championship match in 1972 and 1976. He was also a key player in Romania’s Davis Cup team, helping his country reach the final in 1969.
Off the court, Năstase was known for his colorful personality and sometimes controversial behavior, which often made headlines. His nickname at that time was “Nasty”.
Fun fact: He was the first big tennis player to sign with Nike, which was a big milestone in the company’s early years
Gheorghe Hagi
Hagi is one of the most iconic figures in Romanian football history. He primarily played as an attacking midfielder and was known for his dribbling ability, precise passing, and powerful shooting.
One of Hagi’s most memorable achievements came in 1986 when he helped Steaua București win the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League. He later went on to have successful stints with several other clubs, winning numerous domestic league titles and cups along the way.
At the international level, Hagi represented the Romanian national team with distinction, earning over 125 caps and scoring more than 30 goals. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1990, 1994, and 1998) and was instrumental in Romania’s success during the 1994 tournament, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Fun fact: He was nicknamed the “The Maradona of the Carpathians” and is greatly loved in Turkey as he helped Galatasaray achieve a UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Simona Halep
She is one of the most successful Romanian tennis players in history and has achieved numerous milestones in her career. Throughout her career, Halep has won multiple singles titles, including Grand Slam championships. Her first Grand Slam title came at the 2018 French Open, where she defeated Sloane Stephens in the final. She followed this victory with another Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon in 2019, defeating Serena Williams in the final.
Fun fact: In 2009 she went for a breast reduction, so she can be a better tennis player
Ivan Patzaichin
Ivan Patzaichin was a Romanian former sprint canoeist and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest canoeists of all time.
He won numerous Olympic and World Championship medals throughout his career, representing Romania. Patzaichin competed in six Olympic Games between 1968 and 1984, winning medals in every Olympics he participated in, including four gold medals. He won gold in C-2 1,000 meters in 1968, 1972, and 1980, and a gold in C-2 500 meters in 1980.
Fun fact: In the qualification heats, the paddle with which the Romanian champion was rowing broke just after the first meters. Officials did not notice the signals from the athlete to interrupt the race, so he continued to pursue his dream to the end, to conquer a new Olympic title after the one from Mexico City (1968). He managed to cross the finish line, even though he was last, with over three minutes delay. Even though he died, he opened a couple really nice restaurants in Bucharest and Tulcea.
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