Simona Amânar

Simona Amânar (born October 7, 1979 in Constan?a) is a Romanian gymnast.

Related Topics:
October 7 - 1979 - Constan?a - Romania - Gymnast

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Amânar began participating in gymnastics as a 6-year-old, and became a national team member in 1994, winning the World and European team titles that year. The following year, she was again part of the winning Romanian team at the World Championships, while winning an individual gold medal in the vault, her strongest event.

Related Topics:
1994 - Vault

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At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Amânar would win that same event. In the all-around competition, due to a fall in team compulsories, she hadn't placed for the final. However, in a scenario similar to the 1992 Olympic substitution by the Unified Team of Tatiana Gutsu for Roza Galieva, Amânar was favored instead of teammate Alexandra Marinescu because she had the highest optional all-around score among women. She eventually ended up sharing the bronze medal with teammate Lavinia Milosovici behind Lilia Podkopayeva of the Ukraine (gold) and Romanian Gina Gogean. She won two more medals, a silver in the floor exercise and a bronze in the team all-around.

Related Topics:
1996 Summer Olympics - Tatiana Gutsu - Roza Galieva - Alexandra Marinescu - Lavinia Milosovici - Lilia Podkopayeva - Gina Gogean - Floor exercise

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Ironically Amânar would again replace a higher performing Marinescu in the 1997 World All-Around Championships. She would win the silver medal behind Svetlana Khorkina of Russia.

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Amânar continued to be a top performer in the horse vault, winning the world title again in 1997, and team titles in 1997 and 1999.

Related Topics:
1997 - 1999

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At the 2000 Summer Olympics, the top favourite for the all-around title, Svetlana Khorkina of Russia, stumbled in a number of events, leaving the title up for grabs for the three Romanian women competing in the final. Andrea R?ducan finished first, trailed by Amânar and Maria Olaru. However, it was later discovered that R?ducan had used a cold medicine containing banned substances. Although she was not banned, and her results in other events were allowed to stand, R?ducan was stripped of her gold medal, which now went to Amânar instead. Earlier in the Olympics, the Romanian women had already secured the team title. In the floor exercise, she won her seventh Olympic medal, a bronze.

Related Topics:
2000 Summer Olympics - Svetlana Khorkina - Russia - Andrea R?ducan - Maria Olaru

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Gold medalist Simona Amanar (picture, right) of Romania waves to the crowd after the awards ceremony for the women's gymnastic team finals at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, in Sydney.

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