Maria Olaru
Encyclopedia
Maria Ludovica Olaru is a retired Olympic
artistic gymnast from Romania
. She is an Olympic, world, and European gold medalist with the team. Individually, she is the 1999 all around world champion and the 2000 Olympic all around silver medalist. Her best event was the vault on which she medaled at world and continental competitions. Olaru was one of the tallest gymnasts competing in the late 1990s, standing 5'3"/160 cm. After retirement she became an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the West University of Timişoara
.
, but quickly transferred to the local gymnastics club in Deva
. She moved up to the junior national team in 1993, but after six months, she returned to her home club. In 1995 she rejoined the junior team in Bucharest
. Olaru graduated to the Deva
national training facility in 1996, after wining gold on vault
at the Junior European Championships. In the same year she also won the prestigious Top Gym Trophy in Charleroi
, Belgium
.
in Tianjin
, China
and became the second Romanian gymnast in history, after Aurelia Dobre
, to win the all-around title. In 2000 she was together with Simona Amânar
, Loredana Boboc
, Andreea Isărescu
, Claudia Presacan and Andreea Răducan
a member of the Romanian team at the 2000 Olympics
. Here she shared in the team gold medal and won a bronze in the all-around (this was changed to a silver after the Andrea Raducan scandal). She also qualified for the balance beam event final and placed sixth.
, noting that the new Code of Points
would not be suited to gymnasts of her height, and enrolled as a student at the West University of Timişoara
. After graduation she continued her studies and she became an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the West University of Timişoara
.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
artistic gymnast from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. She is an Olympic, world, and European gold medalist with the team. Individually, she is the 1999 all around world champion and the 2000 Olympic all around silver medalist. Her best event was the vault on which she medaled at world and continental competitions. Olaru was one of the tallest gymnasts competing in the late 1990s, standing 5'3"/160 cm. After retirement she became an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the West University of Timişoara
West University of Timisoara
The West University of Timişoara is a university located in Timişoara, Romania. Established in 1962, it is organized in 11 Faculties.-Organization:...
.
Early life and career
Olaru began gymnastics at the age of six in her hometown of FălticeniFalticeni
Fălticeni is a city in Suceava County, Romania, capital of the former Baia County . As of 2003 the population is 28,899, and the city covers an area of 28,76 km², of which 25% are orchards and lakes. The city is 25 km away from Suceava, the capital of the county...
, but quickly transferred to the local gymnastics club in Deva
Deva, Romania
Deva is a city in Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, on the left bank of the Mureș River. It is the capital of Hunedoara County.-Name:...
. She moved up to the junior national team in 1993, but after six months, she returned to her home club. In 1995 she rejoined the junior team in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. Olaru graduated to the Deva
Deva, Romania
Deva is a city in Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, on the left bank of the Mureș River. It is the capital of Hunedoara County.-Name:...
national training facility in 1996, after wining gold on vault
Vault (gymnastics)
The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault...
at the Junior European Championships. In the same year she also won the prestigious Top Gym Trophy in Charleroi
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Senior career
In 1998 Olaru moved up to senior competition, taking first place with the Romanian team and second on vault at the European Championships. The following year, she contributed to the team gold medal at the 1999 World Championships1999 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 34th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held at Tianjin Arena in Tianjin, China in 1999.-All-around:-Apparatus:-All-around:-Apparatus:...
in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and became the second Romanian gymnast in history, after Aurelia Dobre
Aurelia Dobre
Aurelia Dobre is a former artistic gymnast from Romania, who was the 1987 World Champion. She is still held in high esteem by many gymnastics fans today for her clean technique as well as balletic and artistic flair...
, to win the all-around title. In 2000 she was together with Simona Amânar
Simona Amânar
Simona Amânar is a Romanian gymnast. She is a seven-time Olympic medalist and a ten-time world medalist. Amânar helped Romania to win four consecutive world team titles as well as the 2000 Olympic team title. She has a vault named after her, the Amanar...
, Loredana Boboc
Loredana Boboc
Loredana Boboc is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast. She was a key member of the 1999-2001 Romanian team, contributing to four team medals: an Olympic gold , two world gold , and a European bronze .-External links:*...
, Andreea Isărescu
Andreea Isarescu
Florenţa Andreea Isărescu is a Romanian artistic gymnast who competed in international events between 1997 and 2000. She is an Olympic gold medalist and a world gold medalist with the team.-External links:*...
, Claudia Presacan and Andreea Răducan
Andreea Raducan
Andreea Mădălina Răducan is a retired gymnast from Bârlad, Romania.Răducan began competing in gymnastics at a young age and was training at the Romanian junior national facility by the age of 12½. As one of the standout gymnasts of the Romanian team in the late 1990s, Răducan was known for both...
a member of the Romanian team at the 2000 Olympics
Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Sydney SuperDome on September 16–25 and September 22–23, respectively...
. Here she shared in the team gold medal and won a bronze in the all-around (this was changed to a silver after the Andrea Raducan scandal). She also qualified for the balance beam event final and placed sixth.
Retirement
Olaru retired after the 2000 OlympicsGymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Sydney SuperDome on September 16–25 and September 22–23, respectively...
, noting that the new Code of Points
Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)
A Code of Points is a rulebook that defines the scoring system for each level of competition in gymnastics. There is no unified, international code of points; every oversight organization—such as FIG , NCAA Gymnastics, and most national gymnastics federations—designs and employs its own unique Code...
would not be suited to gymnasts of her height, and enrolled as a student at the West University of Timişoara
West University of Timisoara
The West University of Timişoara is a university located in Timişoara, Romania. Established in 1962, it is organized in 11 Faculties.-Organization:...
. After graduation she continued her studies and she became an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education of the West University of Timişoara
West University of Timisoara
The West University of Timişoara is a university located in Timişoara, Romania. Established in 1962, it is organized in 11 Faculties.-Organization:...
.
Skills
- Vault: Double-twisting YurchenkoYurchenko (vault)Yurchenko is the name of both a specific vault and a vault family in artistic gymnastics. The Yurchenko was named after Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko, who originated the vault in the early 1980s....
, Phelps - Uneven Bars: Kip cast to handstand 1.5 handstand pirouette to mixed grip giant, immediate pike Jaeger; giant 1.5 pirouette into Tkatchev, Pak salto, Back-in Full-out tucked dismount
- Balance Beam: piked front mount, wolf jump, tucked Korbut; flip flop, full (or flip flop, layout step out, Korbut); switch side; front tuck, tuck jump; 3/4 twisting Shushonova; cartwheel, swing through double full dismount
- Floor Exercise: Round-off, whip back, 2.5 twist, punch pike; front-handspring, front double twist, punch front; Round-off, back-handspring, triple twist. Her music for floor routines was:
- 1999: "Invisible Circus" by Vienna Symphony OrchestraVienna Symphony Orchestra-History:In 1900, Ferdinand Löwe founded the orchestra as the Wiener Concertverein . In 1913 it moved into the Konzerthaus, Vienna. In 1919 it merged with the Tonkünstler Orchestra. In 1933 it acquired its current name...
- 2000: Soundtrack from the movie Black Cat, White CatBlack Cat, White CatBlack Cat, White Cat is a 1998 Yugoslav romantic comedy film directed by Emir Kusturica. It won the Silver Lion for Best Direction at the Venice Film Festival....
- 1999: "Invisible Circus" by Vienna Symphony Orchestra
External links and resources
- Maria Olaru interview 2003, International Gymnast Magazine
- "Maria Olaru update" Feb. 26th, 2002, Agenda Timişoara
- List of competitive results at Gymn Forum