Aura Andreea Munteanu
Encyclopedia
Aura Andreea Munteanu, known as Andreea Munteanu (born September 20, 1988, Constanţa
), is a retired world-class Romania
n gymnast
.
Andreea became interested in gymnastics in 1994 after watching a competition on television. Inspired by the meet, she began using her mother's bed as a makeshift vault, prompting her parents to enroll her for lessons at the CSS Farul Constanţa club. She progressed well in the sport, and was accepted to train at the Deva national training center in October 2002.
Less than a year after beginning her training at Deva, in 2003, Munteanu became the Romanian National Champion. Later that year she was selected as part of the Romanian team for the 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
. The Romanians had disappointing team competition, losing the title they had held for eight years, however, they still finished the meet in second place. In the all-around competition, Munteanu finished fifteenth after a fall on the uneven bars. In the floor exercise final, her cheeky, artistic routine, choreographed to music from The Mask
by Adriana Pop, earned her a fourth-place finish and praise from commentators and gymnastics fans.
Munteanu did not compete at the 2004 European Championships, but was selected for the Romanian team for the 2004 Olympics in Athens
. However, days before the Olympics began, she was forced to withdraw, suffering from shin splints
. Her recovery was predicted to take six months, however, new injuries and major changes in the Romanian gymnastics system, including the resignation of head coaches Octavian Belu
and Mariana Bitang, delayed her return to competitive form.
In early 2006, Munteanu trained with new national team head coach Nicolae Forminte in Deva. She did not compete at the 2006 European Championships, but was still considered to be in contention for the Romanian team at the 2006 Worlds. However, in June, she retired from gymnastics due to nagging back injuries.
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
), is a retired world-class 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...
n gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
.
Andreea became interested in gymnastics in 1994 after watching a competition on television. Inspired by the meet, she began using her mother's bed as a makeshift vault, prompting her parents to enroll her for lessons at the CSS Farul Constanţa club. She progressed well in the sport, and was accepted to train at the Deva national training center in October 2002.
Less than a year after beginning her training at Deva, in 2003, Munteanu became the Romanian National Champion. Later that year she was selected as part of the Romanian team for the 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 37th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Anaheim, California, United States, in 2003.Tie-breakers were not used at this competition...
. The Romanians had disappointing team competition, losing the title they had held for eight years, however, they still finished the meet in second place. In the all-around competition, Munteanu finished fifteenth after a fall on the uneven bars. In the floor exercise final, her cheeky, artistic routine, choreographed to music from The Mask
The Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
by Adriana Pop, earned her a fourth-place finish and praise from commentators and gymnastics fans.
Munteanu did not compete at the 2004 European Championships, but was selected for the Romanian team for the 2004 Olympics in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. However, days before the Olympics began, she was forced to withdraw, suffering from shin splints
Shin splints
Shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome refers to pain along or just behind the shins with sports that apply extreme pressure to the legs, such as gymnastics...
. Her recovery was predicted to take six months, however, new injuries and major changes in the Romanian gymnastics system, including the resignation of head coaches Octavian Belu
Octavian Belu
Octavian Ioan Atanase Bellu is the current head of the Romanian national women's artistic gymnastics team. He was the main coach with interruptions, between 1990 and 2005 and returned as head of the national team in 2010...
and Mariana Bitang, delayed her return to competitive form.
In early 2006, Munteanu trained with new national team head coach Nicolae Forminte in Deva. She did not compete at the 2006 European Championships, but was still considered to be in contention for the Romanian team at the 2006 Worlds. However, in June, she retired from gymnastics due to nagging back injuries.