Romania’s only woman gymnast at Rio Olympics fails to win a medal

The only Romanian women’s gymnast who attended the Rio Olympics this year, Catalina Ponor, 29, finished the women’s balance beam final on the seventh place, with a score of 14.000. This was her last chance to win a medal for Romania. The Netherlands’ Wevers Sanne won the gold medal (15.466), while Americans Lauren Hernandez (15.333) and Simone Biles (14.733) got the silver and the bronze, respectively. Catalina Ponor also competed in the women’s floor contest, but came only 14th. This was a far cry from Romania's achievements in previous Olympics for women's gymnastics, and the first time in over 40 years when the country failed to reach the podium. Catalina Ponor was the only gymnast who qualified for the Olympics, at 29. She already had an impressive track record, and had decided to return to competing for the 2016 Olympics. She had withdrawn from gymnastics after the 2012 Olympics. Ponor had won three gold medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and a silver and bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics. Romanian gymnast Marian Dragulescu ranked fourth in men’s vault final, with a score of 15.449. North Korea’s Ri Se Gwang won the gold medal with a score of 15.691. Romanian athlete Andrei Muntean is to compete in the men’s parallel bars final on August 16. Romania won four medals so far at the Rio Olympics, and came number 34th in the overall medal ranking. Romania’s team won the final of the women’s epee competition and the first gold medal for Romania at the Rio Olympics on Thursday, August 11. Then, Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau won silver in the men’s doubles tennis competition, Gabriel Sincraian got the bronze in the men’s 85kg weightlifting competition, and Romania’s rowing team also won the bronze. On July 18, 2016, Romanian Nadia Comaneci celebrated 40 years since she got the perfect 10 in gymnastics. 2012: Sandra Izbasa takes gymnastics gold, Romania’s second at London Olympics 2012: Bronze for Romania in women’s gymnastics team event at London Olympics Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Cosr.ro)