2012 month by month in Romania - August: Olympic stars in London, boiling temperatures and Lady Gaga in concert

The Olympic Games in London provided a welcome distraction from politics during August. There wasn't a whole lot of medals, but in a way, that made those that Romania won all the more special. After the excitement of the referendum came several weeks of waiting around for the Constitutional Court to officially call the election invalid. By the end of the month, politics had got back to normal, which was rancor and bitterness between President and Parliament.

Romania's first of two gold medals came in the shooting competition at the end of July. Alin Moldoveanu won the 10m air rifle competition. Along the way, he equaled the Olympic record and beat the world champion. The women gymnasts put in a fantastic performance in the team event. Up against three strong teams – the US, Russia and China – and with European champion Larisa Iordache carrying an injury, any kind of medal was going to be a huge challenge. But with some stunning individual performances, particularly from Olympic veteran Catalina Ponor, Romania pushed the Chinese into fourth place to take the team bronze. Romania’s pride! Alin Moldoveanu wins country’s first gold medal at London Games Bronze for Romania in women’s gymnastics team event at London Olympics Romania lost one of its brightest musical lights when concert pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa died aged only 33. She was a child prodigy and went on to perform at the premier concert halls around the world. Her first album, released in 2010, received widespread critical acclaim and won an ECHO Klassik award. Romanian pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa dies in Vienna aged 33

The weather remained boiling hot throughout August and people in the capital took every opportunity to escape to the coast, sending the occupancy rates at seaside hotels soaring with the temperatures to reach 100 percent. Heatwave continues in Romania with temperatures reaching 42°C Occupancy rate at Romania’s beaches hits 100 percent The Olympics continued in London and Romania picked up some more medals, including in judo and weightlifting. Romania struck gold again when gymnast Sandra Izbasa won the vault competition and in fencing, Romania beat the Russians and went on to win silver in the team sabre.