| Romania's First Gold Medal in the London Olympics |
| (2012-07-31) |
| Last updated: 2012-08-02 18:44 EET |
In the final, Alin Moldoveanu edged world champion Niccolo Campriani of Italy. Moreover, Moldoveanu equalled the Olympic record score of 599 set by China’s Zhu Qinan at the 2004 Games in Athens. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Moldoveanu finished 4th. The new champion likens the air rifle event to attempting to hit the same mark on a piece of paper 60 times with the tip of the pencil. Alin Moldoveanu admits he is not a fast shooter.
Alin Moldoveanu: ”This is my shooting technique, taking it very slowly. It’s not very important if you shoot first or last. The final result is what counts. I still can’t grasp the importance of this achievement. I am overwhelmed, but I will probably come to realize it in the coming days.”
The gold medal in London adds to Alin Moldoveanu’s silver in the 2006 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, and the bronze in the 2004 European Championships in Gyor, Hungary. Moldoveanu is coached by Sorin Babii, gold medal winner in the 50-metre pistol at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Romanian judoka Corina Caprioriu added to Romania’s success in London, earning silver in the 57 kg category. Caprioriu lost the final to Kaori Matsumoto from Japan, after being disqualified during overtime for an illegal attack from behind. Corina Caprioriu said after the final:
Corina Caprioriu: “At this level, such a mistake is unacceptable, but it happens. I’m very happy with the silver medal. I am generally impulsive, and perhaps my mistake came from anger over my failure to score earlier. I was very determined and I would have tremendously enjoyed singing the Romanian anthem today for the many people who supported me. It’s still Olympic silver, it’s a medal.”
26-year-old Corina Caprioriu produced a surprising win in the 2010 European Championship in Vienna, when she became continental champion. At last year’s World Championship in Paris, she earned the bronze against American Marti Malloy, whom she met this year again in the Olympic semi-final.
Also from judo, Romania’s Alina Dumitru, gold winner in the 2008 Olympic in Beijing, earned silver in the first day of competition in London, in the 48 kg category.
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2025-04-03
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