16 Best Skating Players in Romania: A Historical Perspective

Aleksandr Smokvin

Welcome to the wonderful world of Romanian skating! Romania is home to some of the best skating players in the world, from figure skaters to speed skaters. Romania’s skaters are among the top in the world, having won numerous medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships.

From talented ice dancers to speed skaters with blazing records, Romania’s skaters are some of the best in the world. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of Romania’s top skating players, their achievements, and their stories of success.

1. Alexandra Ianculescu

Alexandra Ianculescu is a Romanian-Canadian speed skater who has had a long journey in order to pursue her skating career. In 2001, she and her family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario from Romania. Seven years later, she moved to Calgary, Alberta to train and live there.

Since then, she has become an impressive figure in the speed skating world. In 2011, Ianculescu joined the Canadian junior national speed skating team. This was a great honor for her and she made the most of it.

She represented Canada in two junior championships, showing her strength, skill, and passion for speed skating. Her dedication paid off, and she was able to compete at a high level for her country. Ianculescu’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work and determination.

She has gone through a lot to get to where she is, and she continues to make her mark in the speed skating world. She is an inspiration to many aspiring speed skaters and a reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

2. Bianca Anghel

Bianca Anghel is a Romanian athlete who competes in the sport of long track speed skating. She has achieved success at both the national and international levels, having competed in several European Championships and World Cup events.

She is a three-time European Champion in the 3000m allround event and a two-time World Cup winner in the 1000m event. Bianca has also represented Romania in the Winter Olympics.

She competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, where she placed 20th in the 1000m event.

She has also represented Romania in the World Single Distance Championships and the World Sprint Championships. Bianca has won numerous medals throughout her career, including gold at the 2017 European Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, Germany.

She has also won silver medals in the 2018 European Championships and the 2017 World Cup, both in the 1000m event.

She has also won bronze medals at the 2017 World Cup in the 3000m event and the 2018 World Cup in the 500m event. Bianca is widely considered to be one of the top Romanian speed skaters in the world, and her success in international competitions has helped to raise Romania’s profile in the sport.

She is an inspirational figure to many young skaters in Romania, and her hard work and dedication to the sport have earned her a great deal of respect.

3. Cerasela Hordobețiu

Cerasela Simona Hordobețiu is a Romanian speed skater who has had a long-standing career in the sport. She first made her debut at international championships in 1987 at the World Junior Championships, where she finished seventeenth.

After this, she continued to compete in international championships, eventually earning a spot at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. During these Olympics, she was able to showcase her speed skating abilities and compete against some of the best skaters in the world.

Hordobețiu has continued to remain active in the sport and her success has been an inspiration to many aspiring speed skaters.

4. Andrea Jakab

Andrea Jakab is a Romanian speed skater who had considerable success at a young age. At the 1997 European Youth Olympic Winter Days, she won a bronze medal, highlighting her talents and showcasing her potential.

Jakab continued to compete and in 2001 she placed seventh at the European Speed Skating Championships. Her success continued and in 2002 she competed in three events at the Winter Olympics, demonstrating her elite level of speed skating.

Andrea Jakab’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport. She is a role model to aspiring speed skaters around the world and an inspiration to her fellow countrymen.

5. Daniela Oltean

Daniela Oltean is a Romanian athlete who specializes in long track speed skating. She has competed in numerous international competitions and is well known in the world of speed skating.

As an Olympic hopeful, she has worked hard to become a competitive skater and represent her country in the highest level of competition. Daniela has competed in many events, including the European Speed Skating Championships and the World Single Distance Championships.

She is also a regular at the World Cup circuit where she has achieved several impressive results throughout her career.

In 2014, she participated in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and placed 16th in the ladies’ 3000m event. In addition to her success in international competitions, Daniela has also won several Romanian national championships.

She is often considered one of the top speed skaters in Romania and has been featured in many interviews and articles about her impressive career. Daniela’s ambition and dedication to the sport of speed skating has taken her to the top of the sport.

She is an inspiration to all aspiring athletes and is a perfect example of what hard work and determination can achieve.

6. Alfred Eisenbeisser

Alfred Eisenbeisser was a multi-talented athlete, having achieved success in both football and figure skating. He was born to a German family in Romania and would go on to represent his home country in two very different sporting events.

As a footballer, Alfred was part of the Romanian team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup. He was part of a small group of players who would go on to make history by representing Romania in the first ever World Cup.

As a figure skater, Alfred competed at the 1936 Winter Olympic Games, showcasing the talent of Romania’s athletes on a global stage. Alfred Eisenbeisser was a true sporting pioneer and a great example of the potential of multi-talented athletes.

7. Zoltán Kelemen

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Zoltán Kelemen is a former competitive figure skater from Romania. He is an eight-time Romanian national champion, making him a formidable competitor.

Throughout his career, he has achieved great success, qualifying for the free skate at a variety of competitions, including the 2014 Winter Olympics, the 2014 World Championships, five European Championships, and two World Junior Championships.

His accomplishments demonstrate his dedication to the sport and his ability to compete at an international level. He is an inspiration to young skaters everywhere, showing that hard work and determination can lead to success.

8. Gheorghe Chiper

Gheorghe Chiper is a renowned former competitive figure skater from Romania. He is an eight-time Romanian national champion, competing at the Olympic Games a remarkable two times.

His achievements do not stop there; he is the first Romanian skater to win a medal on the esteemed Grand Prix circuit, as well as the first to land a quadruple toe loop in competition.

Through his incredible accomplishments, Chiper has become an inspiration to skaters around the world. His career began in the early 1990s when he burst onto the international scene with a series of impressive performances.

His breakthrough came in 1996 when Chiper won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships. This was followed by his first senior national title, setting the tone for the years to come.

Over the course of his career, he won eight Romanian national titles, as well as medals at several other international competitions. Another of Chiper’s major accomplishments came in 2001 when he became the first Romanian skater to win a medal on the Grand Prix circuit.

His success led to his selection to the Romanian Olympic team in 2002 and 2006, the first time a Romanian skater had been chosen to compete in the Winter Games.

In 2006, Chiper made history as the first Romanian skater to land a quadruple toe loop in competition. Chiper’s legacy will live on for years to come. He is an inspirational figure for skaters all around the world, a true testament to the power of hard work and dedication.

Gheorghe Chiper has left an indelible mark on the sport of figure skating, and his achievements will never be forgotten.

9. Cornel Gheorghe

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Cornel Gheorghe is a well-known figure skating coach and former competitor from Romania. He had a successful competitive career, competing in the 1994 Winter Olympics, where he placed 14th, and the 1998 Winter Olympics, where he placed 21st.

After retiring from competitive skating in 2000, he decided to pursue coaching instead. His impressive list of accomplishments as a coach includes the successful development of Adrian Matei and Zolt Kosz.

He has also coached many other skaters, helping them to reach their full potential and achieve success. Gheorghe has been an important influence in the Romanian skating community, and his legacy will live on for many years to come.

10. Roxana Luca

Roxana Hartmann is a former competitive figure skater from Romania. She is a remarkable athlete who has achieved great success in her sport. She is a ten-time Romanian national champion and has represented her country at two Olympic Games.

Her most notable Olympic performance was at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where she qualified for the free skate. In addition to her Olympic success, she has also competed in four European Championships and two World Junior Championships.

These impressive results demonstrate her dedication and skill as a figure skater. Roxana Hartmann is a true champion and an inspiration to many aspiring figure skaters.

11. Julia Sauter

Julia Franziska Sauter is a highly successful figure skater, representing Romania in international competitions. She has achieved remarkable success in her career, having won a total of twelve senior international medals, along with five Romanian national titles.

Her accomplishments have been noticed on a global scale, as she has managed to reach the final segment at one World and two European Championships. Her best result was at the 2023 Europeans, where she managed to finish in the top ten.

She is a true embodiment of hard work and dedication, having achieved such outstanding results in such a competitive sport. Her story is an inspiration for many aspiring figure skaters, showing them that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

12. Mihaela Dascălu

Mihaela Dascălu is a renowned Romanian speed skater who has made a significant impact on the sport.

She is the most successful speed skater in the history of Romania, having achieved numerous titles over the course of her career. Her accomplishments began in 1982 when she won Romania’s first-ever gold medal in speed skating at the Winter Olympics.

She went on to accumulate a total of eight Olympic medals, five of which were gold, and three of which were silver. Dascălu also won an incredible fifteen world championship medals, four of which were gold.

She claimed the overall World All-Around Championships five times, making her the most decorated Romanian speed skater in history. Since retiring from the sport in 1998, Dascălu has continued to be an inspiration for young speed skaters in Romania.

She is widely considered to be a pioneer of the sport in her home country, and her accomplishments have been celebrated by both the Romanian government and the international speed skating community.

Mihaela Dascălu is a true icon of the sport, and her impressive legacy will live on for many years to come.

13. Marius Negrea

Marius Cristian Negrea was a renowned figure skater from Romania. He participated in two Winter Olympics, the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

At the 1992 Olympics, Marius placed 27th overall and at the 1994 Olympics, he placed 19th.

His best result at an ISU Championship was 15th place at the 1992 European Championships held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Throughout his career, Marius competed in many international competitions, showcasing his skills in figure skating.

His hard work and dedication paid off as he represented Romania at two Winter Olympics. He also achieved a remarkable result at the 1992 European Championships, placing 15th overall.

Marius was a dedicated and talented figure skater, who left a mark in the world of figure skating.

14. Sabina Măriuță

Sabina Măriuţă is a former Romanian figure skater who achieved great success in the sport.

She was crowned the Romanian national champion in 2011, a significant milestone in her career. Măriuţă had a successful career in figure skating, representing Romania in numerous international competitions.

She competed in the European Championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011, as well as the World Championships in 2011.

Despite her success on the international stage, it was her victory at the Romanian National Championships in 2011 that stands out among her accomplishments. Măriuţă’s win at the Romanian National Championships in 2011 marked the first time a Romanian had won the title in over 20 years.

This was an especially significant victory for Măriuţă, as it was the culmination of a long and arduous journey to the top of her sport.

Throughout her career, Măriuţă had worked hard to hone her skills and perfect her technique, and her victory at the National Championships was an affirmation of all her hard work. The win at the 2011 Romanian National Championships was not the end of Măriuţă’s success in figure skating.

She went on to compete in several international competitions, gaining recognition and accolades for her talents. Măriuţă retired from competitive figure skating in 2016, but her legacy as the 2011 Romanian National Champion will live on.

15. Gheorghe Fazekas

Gheorghe Fazekas is a renowned Romanian former figure skater. He has had an illustrious career that has seen him reach the highest levels of the sport. Fazekas was lucky enough to represent Romania at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.

His performance at the Olympics was noteworthy and showed the world the potential he had. Additionally, Fazekas competed at multiple World and European Championships, further solidifying his position as a top-level figure skater.

He has also achieved a great deal of success in international competitions, with numerous medals won throughout his career. His achievements are a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.

Gheorghe Fazekas is a true icon in the sport of figure skating and will continue to be remembered for his contributions.

16. Roman Turuşanco

Roman Turuşanco was a Romanian figure skater who made history as the first Romanian to ever compete at the Winter Olympics. He was born in 1914 and began skating at a young age.

He eventually rose to the top of his sport in Romania and qualified to compete in the men’s singles event at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. His Olympic debut was a remarkable moment in Romanian sports history.

He performed a strong routine and made it to the finals, where he finished in sixth place. Turuşanco’s performance was an incredible achievement, as the competition at the 1936 Olympics was extremely high.

He was an inspiration for future Romanian figure skaters, setting the bar for future generations of Romanian athletes.

Conclusion

Romania is home to some of the best skaters in the world. From Olympic medalists to world and European champions, the country has a wealth of talent that is unmatched in the sport.

With so many world-class skaters competing in Romania, it is no surprise that the country is home to some of the best skating players in the world.

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Aleksandr Smokvin

Working with competitive skaters at the national and international level can provide great experience. This experience plays an important role in developing skaters' on- and off-ice techniques and workouts; Compose programs according to international standards and requirements in single skating; Organizing and conducting ice-skating training camps. Committed to staying up to date with current developments and systematically strengthening my own knowledge and competence. LinkedIn