At the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, Romania demonstrated its strength in the sport by winning two gold medals in the coxed eight events. This proved their dominance on the water. The men's 8+ team of Claudiu Neamtu, Mateus-Simion Cozminciuc, Mugurel Vasile Semciuc, Andrei Mandrila, Constantin Adam, Sergiu Vasile Bejan, Florin Arteni, Fabrizio-Alexandru Scripcariu, and coxswain Rucsandra-Ioana Bucsa, crossed the finish line in a time of 5 minutes 25.95 seconds. Germany placed second with a time of 5:28.85. Italy came in third at 5:31.74. This victory highlights Romania's strong preparation and teamwork in the event. It solidifies their position as a top competitor in international rowing. On Saturday, Romania had already earned four medals at the 2026 European Rowing Championships. These included two gold, one silver, and one bronze. These results on the opening day of the weather-disrupted regatta, which was temporarily halted due to a severe storm and subsequent evacuation of Lago di Varese, showcased Romania's ability to adapt and perform under pressure. A hastily rescheduled programme ensured all races were completed after the lightning had passed.
Women's 8+ team also secures victory
Romania's women's coxed eight team, made up of Cristina Druga, Geanina Dumitrita Juncanariu, Ancuta Bodnar, Maria Lehaci, Maria Magdalena Rusu, Amalia Chelaru, Adriana Adam, Simona Radis, and coxswain Victoria Stefania Petreanu, also claimed a gold medal. They finished in 5 minutes 56.14 seconds. Great Britain placed second with a time of 6:01.57. Italy followed with a time of 6:03.65. The success of both the men's and women's teams on Sunday contributed to Romania's overall medal count at the championships. It added to the momentum the team has built throughout the event. The women's gold medal was particularly notable. Adriana Adam and Simona Radis had previously set a new European record in the women's coxless pair on Saturday. Their time was 06:49.04. This performance led to Romania's sweep of both pair events on the opening finals day, with their rowers also securing the first mixed double sculls title as the championships concluded on Sunday, 2 August.
Romania adds more medals to its tally
Over the past weekend, Romania had already earned four medals at the 2026 European Rowing Championships. These included two gold, one silver, and one bronze. On Saturday, the country added to its achievements by securing additional top finishes. Bianca Ifteni, one of Romania's standout rowers, placed second in the women's single sculls Final B category. Her time of 8 minutes 13.79 seconds was just behind Denmark's Frida Sanggaard Nielsen. Nielsen finished first with a time of 8:07.64. Ifteni's performance shows Romania's depth in individual rowing events. It highlights their ability to consistently place on the podium. In the para rowing category, Romania's Cristian Alexandru participated in the men's single sculls Final B. He finished fifth and last with a time of 13 minutes 34.59 seconds. While this result was not as strong as Romania's other performances, it demonstrates the country's continued involvement in the event. Romania controls the eights, as highlighted by their ability to adapt and perform under the compressed schedule and challenging conditions imposed by the storm disruption.
The coxed eight victories on Sunday are a highlight of Romania's campaign at the 2026 European Rowing Championships. They showcase the team's strength in both men's and women's events. With strong performances across multiple categories, Romania has proven its ability to secure medals in a variety of formats. As the competition continues, fans and analysts will be watching closely. They want to see if the team can maintain this momentum. They also want to see if Romania can secure more top finishes in the coming days. The success of Romania's rowing teams is not a one-off performance. It is rather a continuation of the country's strong tradition in the sport. With dedicated training and support from the national rowing federation, athletes like Claudiu Neamtu, Mateus-Simion Cozminciuc, Mugurel Vasile Semciuc, Andrei Mandrila, Constantin Adam, Sergiu Vasile Bejan, Florin Arteni, Fabrizio-Alexandru Scripcariu, Rucsandra-Ioana Bucsa, Cristina Druga, Geanina Dumitrita Juncanariu, Ancuta Bodnar, Maria Lehaci, Maria Magdalena Rusu, Amalia Chelaru, Adriana Adam, Simona Radis, and Victoria Stefania Petreanu, have continued to demonstrate their excellence on the international stage.