The Olympic team of the Republic of Moldova returned from Paris. The athletes were greeted with applause and flowers at the Chisinau International Airport. The event was also attended by President Maia Sandu, IPN reports.
The head of state welcomed them home. “I watched you with bated breath. We applauded you in these days and weeks and we applaud you today, all of Moldova, with pride and gratitude. You represented us with dignity. We experienced together with you the emotions of each competition and you managed to unite Moldova. This year, you, the athletes of Moldova, the champions, have written history. It is the first time since independence that the Republic of Moldova obtained so many medals,” said Maia Sandu.
The official voiced hope that justice will be done to weightlifter Marin Robu and he will get the deserved medal. “Medals and victories in sport are not just sports awards. They are a proof that we can be a society of winners. We have what to be proud of. We have what to boast of and we should do it more often so as to encourage work and success,” said President Sandu.
Nicolae Juravschi, president of the National Olympic and Sports Committee, said that the federations, coaches, sports clubs proved that the athletes are valuable and know how to work. Moldova also has a future in the sports movement through the results of athletes.
Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun said that the most important thing that the athletes did was to inspire confidence that the Moldovans, as a people, can win and nothing can stand in their way. Revival is seen in a number of areas, including sports, and the coming generation is one of winners.
Canoeist Sergei Tarnovschi, who won bronze at the Olympics, said that with his result he wanted to make a whole Moldova happy and in the future he will do it even better.
Wrestler Anastasia Nikita, who won silver, noted that she never felt such great support than at the current Olympic Games. She is happy that the people came together through sport and is confident that this will motivate as many adults and children as possible to practice sport. Sport is not only about performance, but also about a healthy way of life.
The Moldovan athletes won four medals at the Paris Olympic Games. Anastasia Nikta is the first athlete from the Republic of Moldova to win an Olympic medal in women’s wrestling. Judokas Denis Vieru and Adil Osmanov were the first representatives of Moldova to climb on to the Olympic winner’s rostrum at judo. Sergei Tarnovschi won the second Olympic bronze medal in his career.
With four medals, one silver and three bronzes, the Republic of Moldova ranked 72nd out of 206 countries that contended at the Paris Olympics.
