Athlete of the Week– Indoor Athlete Mihai Donisan.

Romanian athletes had a promising start in 2013. The first two phases of the National Indoor Athletics Championships brought about remarkable results, particularly in the jumping event.

Florin Orban, 29.01.2013, 13:09

On January 18th, Marian Oprea, Olympic triple jump vice-champion at the Athens Olympics, returned to the arena with a jump measuring 16 meters and 80 centimeters, a result that he bested a week later by 30 centimeters. In the high jump event, Mihai Donisan matched his personal best, jumping 2 meters and 30 centimeters, while last weekend he pulled the first outstanding performance of the year in international competitions. Donisan ranked 2nd at the Indoor Athletics tournament held in Dresden, Germany, with a jump measuring 2 meters 26 centimeters.

For his exceptional performance we have designated Mihai Donisan athlete of the week on RRI.

At the 2011 Indoor Athletics tournament of New York Mihai Donisan succeeded a jump of 2 meters and 30 centimeters and was already seen as one of the favourites to climb onto the podium at the 2012 London Olympics. Donisan however failed to meet the qualification mark. If Donisan had made it to the London Olympics, his 2 meter and 30 centimeters jump would have secured him the bronze medal.

Now that he has matched his personal best and become the continental leader in the high jump event, Mihai Donisan stands goods chances of grabbing a medal at the forthcoming European Indoor Athletics Championships in March. His coach Vali Ionescu, a former long jump Olympic vice-champion, told us things were a bit complicated:

Vali Ionescu: “Donisan is now part of a firefighter brigade. We are undertaking moves for having him transferred to the Dinamo sports club. Should this move fall through, at 8 in the morning on Monday Mihai needs to join his unit and work one-day shifts with 48 hours off in between. You can’t call yourself a medal contender with such working hours”.

Mihai Donisan has repeatedly said he is not willing to give up his job as a firefighter. In the end it is up to the leaders of Romanian sports and Sports Ministry officials to come up with a solution so as to allow this talented athlete to pursue his own path to success.