The National Weightlifting Team of the Republic of Moldova achieved an extraordinary success at the European U-15 and U-17 Weightlifting Championships, held from August 20 to 27, 2026, in Pristina, Kosovo. Moldovan athletes secured over 20 medals across various categories and set multiple new European records, reinforcing the country’s growing reputation in international sports.
The tournament served as a crucial platform for young athletes to display their physical conditioning, technical precision, and mental resilience under international competition standards.
Key Highlights and Individual Accomplishments
Several athletes delivered historic performances that stood out during the competition:
-
Nicoleta Cojocaru (57 kg category, U-17): Hailing from Ungheni, Nicoleta retained her European crown for the second consecutive year. She captured three gold medals and broke two European records, lifting 87 kg in the snatch and 108 kg in the clean and jerk, reaching a total of 195 kg.
-
Tudor Cristea (51 kg category, U-15): Showed complete dominance in his age division, claiming three gold medals with lifts of 83 kg in snatch and 101 kg in clean and jerk (total: 184 kg).
-
Nicolae Chihai (55 kg category, U-17): Earned three silver medals with a total score of 226 kg. His clean and jerk attempt of 127 kg established a brand-new European record.
-
Ilia Costic (51 kg category, U-15): Delivered a strong performance alongside his teammates, taking home three silver medals.
-
Gabriela Danilov (53 kg category, U-17): Secured three silver medals with a total of 168 kg (76 kg snatch / 93 kg clean and jerk).
-
Iulian Danalachi (70 kg category, U-15): Contributed to the medal tally with three bronze medals, finishing with a total of 214 kg.
-
Ecaterina Vîrlan (45 kg category): Opened Moldova’s medal account early in the tournament, earning bronze in the snatch (59 kg) and another bronze in total weight (129 kg).
Significance for National Sports Development
Winning more than 20 medals at a European championship highlights the effectiveness of Moldova’s youth sports development programs. These outstanding achievements provide a strong foundation for the national team as they prepare for upcoming World Championships and future Olympic qualification cycles.
