Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that he will not participate in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, after gymnast Ana Maria Bărbosu was stripped of her bronze medal.
Marcel Ciolacu will not participate in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics PHOTO Archive
“I decided not to participate in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonorable way. To withdraw a medal earned by honest work on the basis of an appeal, which neither the coaches nor the top technicians understand, is totally unacceptable!” the prime minister wrote on his Facebook page.
He added that it is “unacceptable that, in a competition of this magnitude, which promotes values such as respect, understanding and excellence, a child who had honestly earned her medal should be brutally deprived of a result of her work of four years!”
“I remember very well how, under communism, the Russians used to steal from us at the Olympics, and we tried to argue with them without having much chance of winning. I don’t want to argue with anyone today, but I just choose to protest with my gesture against a flagrant injustice towards some Romanian women who have fully proven their worth! Sabrina and Ana Maria, you have a whole nation by your side for whom your work and tears are more precious than any medal, no matter what precious metal it is! And I assure you that the Romanian state will treat you, including in terms of prizes, like Olympic medalists. Because that’s what you are to all of us”concluded the prime minister.
The gymnast whose medal was stolen
Ana Maria Bărbosu placed fourth on the floor, on Monday, in the artistic gymnastics competition of the Olympic Games in Paris, while Sabrina Maneca-Voinea placed fifth.
Bárbosu was a bronze medalist for a few tens of seconds, but the American Jordan Chiles filed an appeal and her score was increased, from 13.666 to 13.766 so she finished in third position.
Sabrina Maneca-Voinea also filed an appeal for the grade she received (13,700), but it was rejected.
The gold medal was won by the Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, scored with 14.166, while the silver went to the American Simone Biles (14.133).
Romania has not won an Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics since 2012 (London), when Sandra Izbaşa won gold on vault, Cătălina Ponor won silver on floor, and the Romanian women’s team took bronze.
The Romanian women’s gymnastics team returned after 12 years to the Olympic Games on the occasion of this edition. Our gymnasts ranked 7th in the team final, Ana Maria Bărbosu 17th, and Amalia Ghigoartă 22nd in individual compound, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea 8th on beam and 5th on floor, and Ana Bărbosu 4th on floor .
