Nicoleta Daniela Sofronie
Encyclopedia
Nicoleta Daniela Sofronie, (born February 12, 1988 in Constanţa
, Romania
) is a Romania
n artistic gymnast
. She is an Olympic and a European gold medalist with the team. She is also an Olympic silver medalist of floor and the 2004 European all around silver medalist.
and moved to Deva in 2002. In 2003 she was an alternate to the team at the 2003 World Championships
. Practically an unknown gymnast before 2004, she burst out onto the international scene with a silver medal in the controversial all around final at the 2004 European Championships in Amsterdam
. Şofronie score in the all around event was 0.38 points behind the score of Alina Kozich
of Ukraine, one of the narrowest margins of victory in European history. After three rotations (vault, uneven bars and floor) Kozich
was 0.137 points behind Şofronie. In the last rotation, the floor exercise, Şofronie did not receive the full credit for the dance connections that filled the gaps between acrobatics, which lowered the start value of her routine to 9.70. At the same time speculations were made that the A-panel head Lyubov Adrianova of Russia had influenced the elevation of Kozich
’s start value from 9.90 to 10. Despite controversies, statements released by the European Gymnastics Union and the International Gymnastics Federations confirmed the decisions taken during the competition. At the 2004 European Championships Şofronie also contributed to the team gold medal, the first time since 1998 that they had taken this title. A picture of her performing at these championships was on the cover of the 2004 June/July International Gymnast Magazine.
Later that year she affirmed her position as a notable gymnast with strong performances at the 2004 Athens Olympics, helping the Romanian team to win the gold. She competed on vault, bars and floor in team finals, scoring 9.400, 9.562 and 9.562 respectively. Individually, Şofronie won silver on floor behind teammate Cătălina Ponor
, placed fifth all around and sixth on uneven bars. Unusually for a Romanian gymnast, she was a strong bars worker and comparatively weak on beam.
Following an underpar performance at the 2005 European Championships, Şofronie retired from the sport and pursued her education.
. She also worked as a fitness instructor in her hometown Constanţa
.
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....
, 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...
) is a 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 artistic gymnast
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
. She is an Olympic and a European gold medalist with the team. She is also an Olympic silver medalist of floor and the 2004 European all around silver medalist.
Gymnastics career
She started gymnastics in 1992 in her hometown ConstanţaConstanta
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....
and moved to Deva in 2002. In 2003 she was an alternate to the team at the 2003 World 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...
. Practically an unknown gymnast before 2004, she burst out onto the international scene with a silver medal in the controversial all around final at the 2004 European Championships in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Şofronie score in the all around event was 0.38 points behind the score of Alina Kozich
Alina Kozich
Alina Kozich is a former Ukrainian gymnast. She is from Kiev and was a member of the 2004 Ukrainian Olympic team in Athens, Greece. She started Gymnastics at the age of 5 and her younger sister Olha is also a very talented gymnast....
of Ukraine, one of the narrowest margins of victory in European history. After three rotations (vault, uneven bars and floor) Kozich
Alina Kozich
Alina Kozich is a former Ukrainian gymnast. She is from Kiev and was a member of the 2004 Ukrainian Olympic team in Athens, Greece. She started Gymnastics at the age of 5 and her younger sister Olha is also a very talented gymnast....
was 0.137 points behind Şofronie. In the last rotation, the floor exercise, Şofronie did not receive the full credit for the dance connections that filled the gaps between acrobatics, which lowered the start value of her routine to 9.70. At the same time speculations were made that the A-panel head Lyubov Adrianova of Russia had influenced the elevation of Kozich
Alina Kozich
Alina Kozich is a former Ukrainian gymnast. She is from Kiev and was a member of the 2004 Ukrainian Olympic team in Athens, Greece. She started Gymnastics at the age of 5 and her younger sister Olha is also a very talented gymnast....
’s start value from 9.90 to 10. Despite controversies, statements released by the European Gymnastics Union and the International Gymnastics Federations confirmed the decisions taken during the competition. At the 2004 European Championships Şofronie also contributed to the team gold medal, the first time since 1998 that they had taken this title. A picture of her performing at these championships was on the cover of the 2004 June/July International Gymnast Magazine.
Later that year she affirmed her position as a notable gymnast with strong performances at the 2004 Athens Olympics, helping the Romanian team to win the gold. She competed on vault, bars and floor in team finals, scoring 9.400, 9.562 and 9.562 respectively. Individually, Şofronie won silver on floor behind teammate Cătălina Ponor
Catalina Ponor
Cătălina Ponor is a gymnast from Constanţa, Romania. After beginning training with the national team in 2002, Ponor won several medals with the Romanian team, along with individual balance beam and floor exercise medals. Almost unknown until late 2003, Ponor has made several important...
, placed fifth all around and sixth on uneven bars. Unusually for a Romanian gymnast, she was a strong bars worker and comparatively weak on beam.
Following an underpar performance at the 2005 European Championships, Şofronie retired from the sport and pursued her education.
Retirement
After retirement she graduated her high school and university studies. She was for a short period a member of Romanian Golden Team – a gymnastics show set up by Marius UrzicăMarius Urzica
Marius Daniel Urzică is a Romanian gymnast. Urzică is an Olympic champion, a three-time world champion and a three-time European champion on pommel horse. He competed at three Olympic games, medaling each time on pommel horse and contributed to the team bronze in Athens 2004...
. She also worked as a fitness instructor in her hometown Constanţa
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....
.