2013 Romania vs France Friendly Junior CompetitionJun 10, 2013 by Anne Phillips
Romania's Next Generation Wins in France
Romania's Next Generation Wins in France
Romania and Andreea Munteanu won the friendly junior dual meet this weekend with France. This meet served as a tune up for the upcoming European Youth Olympic Festival and introduced us to some of their up-and-coming junior gymnasts.
Munteanu dominated the competition, winning gold in the all around as well as vault, beam, and floor.
Munteanu is 15 years old and in her final year as a junior elite. At the 2012 European Championships, she won bronze in the junior all around as well as silver on beam and tied for bronze on floor. Her best event appears to be beam where she easily competes a back handspring to back tuck with a full twist [video]. She was also the only gymnast in this competition to vault a double twisting yurchenko.
Claire Martin of France finished second all around. She charmed the crowd on floor with her gorgeous, expressive choreography and great extension in her leaps [video].
Andreea Iridon of Romania rounded out the all around podium in claiming the bronze. She is also one to watch in the future and is likely to make major teams once she turns senior. She especially excels on uneven bars where the Romanians are historically weak. Iridon won the uneven bars title in France and also took home silvers on beam and floor [video].
Iridon shows great potential on balance beam, aggressively attacking a variety of big tricks. Watch her silver medal winning event finals set:
Iridon shows great potential on balance beam, aggressively attacking a variety of big tricks. Watch her silver medal winning event finals set:
All Around Results:
1. Andreea Munteanu - Romania - 55.60
2. Claire Martin - France - 53.80
3. Andreea Iridon - Romania - 53.30
Event Finals Results:
VAULT
1. Andreea Munteanu - Romania - 14.425 [prelim video]
2. Louise Vanhille - France - 13.65
3. Laura Jurca - Romania - 13.50
BARS
1. Andreea Iridon - Romania - 14.35 [video]
2. Madalena Blendea - Romania - 13.65 [prelim video]
3. Claire Martin - France - 13.40
3. Louise Vanhille - France - 13.40
BEAM
1. Andreea Munteanu - Romania - 14.40 [video]
2. Andreea Iridon - Romania - 14.25 [video]
3. Madalina Blendea - Romania - 14.0
FLOOR
1. Andreea Munteanu - Romania - 14.35 [prelim video]
2. Andreea Iridon - Romania - 13.95
3. Claire Martin - France - 13.9 [prelim video]
3. Silvia Zarzu - Romania - 13.9