Athlete of the Week

Weightlifter Mihaela Cambei has been designated Athlete of the Week by Radio Romania International

Florin Orban, 13.08.2024, 13:45

The Olympic Games have come to an end in Paris with Romania ranking 23^rd in the medal standings. Our athletes walked away from Paris with nine medals, three gold, four silver and two bronze. Most of these medals, seven, were obtained in the first week of contests. In the second week, athletes from Romania reaped two medals. Gymnast Ana Barbosu won bronze in the floor event and weightlifter Mihaela Cambei stepped onto the podium’s second step after coming second in the 49-kilogram category. In order to designate the athlete of the week, Radio Romania International had to choose between the two athletes. We eventually chose Cambei for the sensational way in which she competed.

Mihaela’s performance has been described by experts as perfect. In the snatch event she lifted 89, 91 and 93 kilograms, while in the jerk event she first lifted 106, then 110 and eventually 112 kilograms. According to Agerpres news agency, the athlete got injured in the second attempt of the jerk event. She eventually totaled 205 kilograms, but lost to Zhihui Hou of China who managed to lift 117 kilograms, set a record in the jerk event of the aforementioned category, and eventually scored a total of 206 kilograms. Surodchana Khambao of Thailand came third with a total of 200 kilograms.

Mihaela Valentina Cambei was born in Bacau county, eastern Romania on November 18, 2002. At the age of only 16 she became bronze medalist in the 48-kilogram category in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

She compelled international recognition in competitions when she walked away with silver from the jerk event of the World Championships held in Bogota in 2022. She dominated the European Championships in 2023 and 2024 by repeatedly breaking the continental record in the jerk event. At the European Championships held in Sofia this spring, Cambei was designated the Best European Weightlifter of the year 2023.

(bill)