Camelia Voinea

Infobox Gymnast
gymnastname= Camelia Voinea

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birthplace=Constanţa
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Camelia Voinea (b. March 1, 1970 in Constanţa, Romania) is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast, who competed in international events between 1984 and 1988 [http://www.gymnpics.com/gymnasticgreats/wag/voinea.htm "Gymnastics Greats: Camelia Voinea"] ] . She was best known for her powerful tumbling, her innovative 1986-87 floor exercise that featured breakdancing elements [http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/voinea.html "Gymn Forum: Camelia Voinea"] ] , and for being the first gymnast to tumble a double layout to punch front somersault [http://www.geocities.com/ultimateromanians/voinea.html "Geocities.com: Camelia Voinea"] ] . In 1987 she scored a perfect ten for the floor exercise during the team competition event at the World Championships [http://www.gymn-forum.net/Results/Worlds/Women/1987_teams_1-3.html "Gymn Forum: 1987 World Artistic Championships, Women's Team"] ] [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066645/index.htm “Sports Illustrated”] ”A Reborn Russian, A New Nadia, by Craig Neff” November 2, 1987] .

Career

Camelia started to train for gymnastics at the CSS 1 Farul Constanta Club under the direction of coach Matei Stănei. Later she trained with the national team at Deva under coaches Adrian Goreac, Adrian Stan, and Maria Cosma.Her international debut was at the Balkan Championships (1984) where she placed first with the team, second all around, first on floor, and second on vault and uneven bars. The 1985 World Championships in Montreal was her first major international competition. She won silver with the team, placed fourth in the uneven bars event, and ninth in the all around. One year later she was invited to compete in the World Cup in Beijing. She placed ninth all around [http://www.gymn-forum.net/Results/WCup/Women/1986_aa.html "Gymn Forum: 1986 World Cup Women's All around "] ] and won silver on floor behind Elena Shushunova [http://www.gymn-forum.net/Results/WCup/Women/1986_ef.html "Gymn Forum: 1986 World Cup Women's Final Events"] ] .

At the 1987 European Championships, Moscow, she won silver in the floor finals [http://www.gymn-forum.net/Results/EChamps/Women/1987_ef.html “Gym Forum: 1987 European Championships Women’s EF”] ] and she tied with Laura Munoz for the eight place in the all around [http://www.gymn-forum.net/Results/EChamps/Women/1987_aa.html “Gym Forum: 1987 European Championships Women’s AA”] ] . Together with Aurelia Dobre, Eugenia Golea, Celestina Popa, Daniela Silivaş and Ecaterina Szabo, Camelia was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 1987 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Rotterdam, The Netherlands. During the floor event in the team optional finals Camelia Voinea, Aurelia Dobre and Daniela Silivaş scored three consecutive 10s from the judges. It was the first time in gymnastics history that three teammates had gotten perfect scores in succession. Voinea brought the crowd alive in her floor routine with a funky display of break dancing.One year later, Camelia was a member of the silver winning team at the 1988 Summer Olympics [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics#Team_competition “Gymnastics at the 1988 Summer Olympics, Team Competition”] ] .

Post retirement

Camelia retired after the 1988 Olympic Games. Following retirement she attended the University of Bucharest for two years, leaving mid-way for a coaching opportunity in Italy. She returned home in 1994, to coach with alongside her first coach Matei Stănei. The money Voinea earned while coaching abroad was invested in an agricultural business near Constanta.

References