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{{MedalBronze|1998 St Petersburg|Floor Exercise}}
{{MedalBronze|1998 St Petersburg|Floor Exercise}}
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'''Simona Amânar''' ({{IPA-ro|siˈmona amɨˈnar}}; born October 7, 1979, in [[Constanţa]]) is a [[Romania]]n former [[Artistic gymnastics|artistic gymnast]]. She is a seven-time Olympic medalist and a ten-time [[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]] medalist.


'''Simona Amânar''' ({{IPA-ro|siˈmona amɨˈnar}}; born October 7, 1979, in [[Constanţa]]) is a [[Romania]]n former [[Artistic gymnastics|artistic gymnast]]. She is a seven-time Olympic medalist and a ten-time World Championships medalist. Amânar helped Romania win four consecutive world team titles (1994–1999) as well as the 2000 Olympic team title. She is also the 2000 Olympic all-around champion. She has a vault named after her, the [[Amanar|Amânar]], and was inducted into the [[International Gymnastics Hall of Fame]] in 2007.<ref name = hfSA>[http://www.ighof.com/honorees.html International Gymnastics Hall of Fame] Simona Amânar</ref>
Amânar helped Romania win four consecutive world team titles (1994–1999), as well as the 2000 Olympic team title. She is also the 2000 Olympic all-around champion. She has [[Amanar|a vault named after her]] and was inducted into the [[International Gymnastics Hall of Fame]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ighof.com/honorees/2007_Simona_Amanar.php|title=Simona Amanar - The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame|website=www.ighof.com|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>
==1994–95==
⚫
In 1994, her first year on the senior national team, Amânar contributed to Romania's team titles at the [[1994 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (Team)|World]] and [[European Artistic Gymnastics Championships|European Championships]].


⚫
She began to excel as an individual performer at the 1995 European Cup, placing second in the all-around behind [[Svetlana Khorkina]] of Russia and winning gold on both [[Vault (gymnastics)|vault]] and [[Floor (gymnastics)|floor exercise]]. At the [[1995 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1995 World Championships]], she helped Romania secure its second consecutive world team title and became co-champion on vault (with all-around winner [[Lilia Podkopayeva]] of Ukraine). Amânar's powerful floor routine and vaults put her in the lead after two rotations in the all-around, but she dropped to fourth after an average [[uneven bars]] routine and a shaky [[balance beam]] routine.
The hallmarks of Amânar's gymnastics included her powerful vaulting skills and consistency. Later in her career, she was considered weak on the uneven bars, with her scores declining after she tied for the European title in 1996.

==1994==
⚫
In 1994, her first year on the senior national team, Amânar was known primarily as a team player and contributed to Romania's team titles at the World and European championships.

==1995==
⚫
Amânar began to excel as an individual performer at the 1995 European Cup, placing second all-around behind [[Svetlana Khorkina]] of Russia and winning gold on both vault and floor. She continued her success at the World Championships that year, helping Romania secure its second consecutive world team title and becoming co-world champion on vault (with all-around champion [[Lilia Podkopayeva]] of Ukraine). Amânar's powerful floor routine and vaults put her in the lead after two rotations in the all-around. However, she dropped to fourth overall after an average bar routine and a shaky beam routine.


==1996==
==1996==
Amânar won a silver medal on vault at the World Championships, behind teammate [[Gina Gogean]] and ahead of Cuba's [[Annia Hatch|Annia {{sic|hide=y|Portuondo}}-Hatch]].
Amânar won a silver medal on vault at the [[1996 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1996 World Championships]], behind teammate [[Gina Gogean]] and ahead of Cuba's [[Annia Hatch|Annia {{sic|hide=y|Portuondo}}-Hatch]].


At the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], Amânar was one of the front-runners for several individual medals, but her Olympics started inauspiciously when she fell off the beam during the compulsories. Though she later posted the highest all-around score in the optionals (39.387), her combined compulsory and optionals scores put her fourth among her teammates, and she did not qualify for the all-around final. However, in a scenario similar to the [[Unified Team at the Olympics|Unified Team]]'s substitution of [[Tatiana Gutsu]] for [[Rozalia Galiyeva]] at the 1992 Olympics, Amânar replaced her teammate [[Alexandra Marinescu]] in the final, which was legal at the time. The Romanian head coach, [[Octavian Bellu]], said that Amânar deserved to compete because she had worked harder and was a better athlete than Marinescu. Amânar ended up sharing the bronze medal with teammate [[Lavinia Miloşovici]], behind teammate Gogean.
At the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], Amânar was one of the front-runners for several individual medals, but her Olympics started inauspiciously when she fell off the beam during the compulsories. Though she later posted the highest all-around score in the optionals (39.387), her combined compulsory and optionals scores put her fourth among her teammates, and she did not qualify for the final.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/26/sports/atlanta-day-7-gymnastics-us-gymnasts-take-back-seat-in-all-around.html|title=U.S. Gymnasts Take Back Seat in All-Around|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|date=1996-07-26|work=|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref> However, in a scenario similar to the [[Unified Team at the Olympics|Unified Team]]'s substitution of [[Tatiana Gutsu]] for [[Rozalia Galiyeva]] at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympics]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-07-31/sports/1992213141_1_gutsu-zmeskal-unified-team|title=Zmeskal steps out, then down: World champion is tearful 10th as Gutsu, Miller reign|last=Glauber|first=Bill|date=1992-07-31|website=Baltimore Sun|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> Amânar replaced her teammate [[Alexandra Marinescu]] in the all-around final.<ref name=":0" /> The Romanian head coach, [[Octavian Bellu]], said that Amânar deserved to compete because she had worked harder and was a better athlete than Marinescu. Amânar ended up sharing the bronze medal with teammate [[Lavinia Miloşovici]], behind Gogean.<ref name=":0" />


In both the 1996 Olympic all-around and the 1995 World Championships all-around, Amânar failed to score over 9.800 on the [[floor exercise]] despite well-executed and extremely difficult tumbling. In Atlanta, she scored a 9.887 in the team optional competition (the highest score of the entire Olympics on any event, for men or women) and only a 9.737 in the all-around. She did not start from a 10.0 in the all-around—despite having the most tumbling bonus points of anyone at the Games (.6 in D and E elements, and .3 in connection value)—because her tour jeté half-turn ([[Kerri Strug|Strug]]), a C element, was not completed. Thus, she did not have enough simple A, B, and C skills to meet her value part requirements, and much of her D- and E-rated tumbling had to count as easier elements to fulfill those requirements.
In both the 1996 Olympic all-around and the 1995 World Championships all-around, Amânar failed to score over 9.800 on the floor exercise despite well-executed and extremely difficult tumbling. In the Olympics, she scored a 9.887 in the team optionals (the highest score of the entire Olympics on any event, for men or women), but only a 9.737 in the all-around. She did not start from a 10.0 in the all-around—despite having the most tumbling bonus points of anyone at the Games—because her tour jeté half-turn ([[Kerri Strug|Strug]]), a C element, was not completed. Thus, she did not have enough simple A, B, and C skills, and much of her D- and E-rated tumbling had to count as easier elements to fulfill those requirements.


The requirements for the 9.4 base score, for each level of competition, were as follows:
The requirements for a 9.4 base score, for each level of competition, were as follows:
Competition I (team optionals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs;
* Competition I (team optionals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs
Competition II (all-around): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 1 D;
* Competition II (all-around): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 1 D
Competition III (event finals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 2 Ds.
* Competition III (event finals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 2 Ds.
⚫
Amânar did not perform a double turn in the team optionals or the all-around because it was not necessary as long as she completed her Strug. However, when she failed to complete the Strug, four of her six tenths in D and E elements had to count toward requirements, which left her with only .2 counting toward her bonus. Without the error, Amânar would have finished ahead of Gogean and Miloşovici.


⚫
In the event finals, Amânar completed her Strug and added a double turn to fulfill the more stringent Competition III requirements. She earned a 9.850 and the silver medal, behind Podkopayeva and just ahead of [[Dominique Dawes]] of the United States. She won the vault final the day before, largely because of her 9.875 score for her double-twisting [[Yurchenko (vault)|Yurchenko vault]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-07-29/news/ss-29267_1_amy-chow|title=After the Rest Bow Out, Chow Gets Silver Medal|last=Penner|first=Mike|date=1996-07-29|work=|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref> She left the 1996 Olympics with four medals, including Romania's team bronze.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/simona-amanar|title=Simona Amanar|last=|first=|date=2016-06-20|website=olympic.org|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>
⚫
Amânar did not perform a double turn in either the team optionals or the all-around because it was not necessary as long as she completed her Strug. She included few A, B, and C skills in her routine because her excess D and E tumbling bonus could count to fulfill these simpler element requirements. However, when she failed to complete her Strug, four of her six tenths in D and E elements had to count toward requirements, which left her with only .2 counting toward her bonus. In the Code of Points at the time, gymnasts needed .3 in D and E skill bonus and .3 in connection value bonus to start from a 10.0. Without the error, Amânar would have finished well ahead of her more established compatriots Gogean and Miloşovici.


==1997–99==
⚫
In the event finals in Atlanta, Amânar completed her Strug and added a double turn to fulfill the more stringent Competition III (event final) requirements. She earned a 9.850 and the silver medal, behind Podkopayeva and just ahead of [[Dominique Dawes]] of the United States. She won the vault final the day before, largely because of her 9.875 score for an enormous double-twisting Yurchenko vault. She left the 1996 Olympics with four medals, including Romania's team bronze.
Romania won its third straight team title at the [[1997 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1997 World Championships]]. Amânar again replaced a higher-scoring Marinescu in the all-around competition and won the silver medal behind Russia's Khorkina, followed by a gold medal on vault.


⚫
In the [[1999 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1999 World Championships]], Amânar led the Romanian team to a fourth consecutive title (there was no Worlds competition in 1998). However, she fell off the bars during the all-around and placed well out of the medals. She also lost her vaulting title to Russia's [[Elena Zamolodchikova]], who dominated that event in the following years due to a more difficult second vault: a double-twisting [[Tsukahara (vault)|Tsukahara]]. Amânar won her only medal of the competition on the floor, taking home the silver behind teammate [[Andreea Răducan]].
==1997==
Amânar again replaced a higher-performing Marinescu in the all-around competition at the 1997 World Championships. She won the silver medal behind Russia's Khorkina: She scored higher than Khorkina on three of the four events, but the discrepancy between their performances on the uneven bars gave the title to Khorkina. Amânar's vaulting score was not as high as in previous all-around competitions because of a rule change that required the athletes to perform two different vaults. Her second vault, a [[Jaycie Phelps|Phelps]], was much weaker than her first, the double-twisting Yurchenko. Nevertheless, Amânar won the vault title, and the victory made her a two-time World champion and Olympic champion on the event. Romania also won its third straight team title.


==1999==
==2000==
At the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], the Romanians edged out the Russians to take the team title—their first since [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]] and their first ever in a non-boycotted Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/20/sports/sydney-2000-gymnastics-romania-conquers-and-americans-are-left-divided.html|title=Romania Conquers and Americans Are Left Divided|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=2000-09-20|work=|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref>
⚫
In the 1999 World Championships, Amânar led the team to a fourth consecutive title, but fell off the bars during the all-around and placed well out of the medals. She lost her vaulting title to Russia's [[Elena Zamolodchikova]], who dominated that event in the following years due to a more difficult second vault: a double-twisting [[Tsukahara (vault)|Tsukahara]]. Amânar learned that vault by 2000, but only completed it at the European Championships. Her younger teammates carried the banner for the Romanians. [[Maria Olaru]] won the all-around, and [[Andreea Răducan]] won the title on floor exercise. Amânar won her first (and only) World Championship medal on the floor, taking home the silver behind Răducan.


In the all-around, the vaulting horse was set too low by the Olympic organizers, and the favorite for the title, Svetlana Khorkina, fell on her signature vault.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100494&page=1|title=Gymnastics: Olympic Vault Set Too Low|last=Pells|first=Eddie|date=2000-09-21|website=ABC News|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> Several other gymnasts fell or stumbled because of [[Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|the same problem]]. Many went on to make mistakes on their next event, knowing their medal chances were gone, only to be informed later of the error and their chance to vault again.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-09-22/news/0009220229_1_second-vault-first-of-two-vaults-release-move|title=`Unthinkable' Error Mars Gymnastics Competition|last=Isaacson|first=Melissa|date=2000-09-22|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> The three Romanian women either managed to perform well on the faulty vault or vaulted after the mistake had been corrected. They swept the medals, with Răducan winning the gold, Amânar the silver, and [[Maria Olaru]] the bronze.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/22/sports/sydney-2000-gymnastics-romania-sweeps-as-controversy-swirls.html|title=Romania Sweeps as Controversy Swirls|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=2000-09-22|work=|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref>
==2000==
At the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], the Romanians once again edged out the Russians to take the team title—their first since 1984 and their first ever in a non-boycotted Olympics. The vaulting horse was set too low by the Olympic organizers before the women's all-around, and the undisputed favorite for the all-around title, [[Svetlana Khorkina]], fell on her signature vault. Several other gymnasts in the competition fell or stumbled because of this same [[Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|problem]]. Many went on to make mistakes on their next event, knowing their medal chances were gone, only to be informed later of the error and their chance to vault again. The three Romanian women either managed to perform well on the faulty vault or vaulted after the mistake had been corrected. They swept the medals, with Răducan winning the gold, followed by Amânar and Olaru.


Răducan had used a cold medicine containing a banned substance. Although her results in other events were allowed to stand, she was stripped of her gold medal, which went to Amânar. Initially, Amânar refused to accept the medal, insisting that Răducan had rightfully earned the title. Maria Olaru took the same stance when the silver was awarded to her, and China's [[Liu Xuan]] also refused the bronze. However, the two Romanians eventually reconsidered, deciding to bring the medals home to Romania as symbolic victories of the team. Amânar later returned the gold medal to Răducan. Although Răducan intended to file paperwork with the [[International Olympic Committee]], Amânar is still credited as the 2000 all-around champion. To this day, Amânar says she believes that Răducan is the true Olympic all-around champion and refuses to acknowledge herself as the winner.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}
Răducan was subsequently found to have used a cold medicine containing a banned substance. Although her results in other events were allowed to stand, she was stripped of her all-around gold medal, which went to Amânar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/26/sports/sydney-2000-drug-testing-gymnast-tests-positive-and-loses-gold.html|title=Gymnast Tests Positive and Loses Gold|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=2000-09-26|work=|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/26/news/ss-27078|title=Romanian Teenager Stripped of Gold|last=Pucin|first=Diane|date=2000-09-26|work=|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref> Initially, Amânar refused to accept the medal, insisting that Răducan had rightfully earned the title. Olaru took the same stance when the silver was awarded to her.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/092600/Bre_Breakin.html#.V52TsTkrIy4|title=Romanian gymnastics team gives up two all-around medals|last=|first=|date=2000-09-26|website=juneauempire.com|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> However, they eventually reconsidered and decided to bring the medals home to Romania as symbolic victories of the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sydney/story/0,,374965,00.html|title=Bitter pill as tiny gymnast loses gold|last=Chaudhary|first=Vivek|date=2000-09-29|website=www.theguardian.com|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> Amânar continued to insist, however, that Răducan was the true Olympic all-around champion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/gymnastics/952053.stm|title=Amanar retires as Raducan feted|last=|first=|date=2000-10-01|work=|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=2016-07-31|via=}}</ref>


In the event finals, Amânar had the opportunity to defend her Olympic title from four years earlier. However, she stumbled badly while debuting a new vault—a 2{{frac|1|2}} twisting laid-out [[Yurchenko (vault)|Yurchenko]], which was then named after her — although her medal hopes were erased. She went on to win bronze on floor exercise after losing points for a step out of bounds on her last tumbling pass.
In the event finals, Amânar had the opportunity to defend her Olympic vault title from four years earlier. However, she stumbled badly while debuting a new vault (a 2{{frac|1|2}} twisting laid-out [[Yurchenko (vault)|Yurchenko]], which was then named after her), and did not win a medal. She went on to win bronze on floor exercise after losing points for a step out of bounds on her last tumbling pass.


==Career summary==
==Legacy==
Throughout her career, Amânar was a power athlete, showing exceptional difficulty on vault and floor but less on beam and bars. Her strength was difficult skills rather than expression. She maintained a hugely successful career at the highest ranks of the sport for more than five years. Amânar ranks highly on the list{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} of most medaled gymnasts, with 17 World and Olympic medals. She played a crucial role in the four consecutive World team titles and Olympic title that firmly stamped Romania as the top-ranked team women's gymnastics team in the world.
Amânar ranks highly on the list{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} of most medaled gymnasts, with 17 World and Olympic medals. She played a large role in the four consecutive World team titles and Olympic title that established Romania as the top-ranked women's gymnastics team in the world.


===Eponymous skills===
===Eponymous skills===
A vault element is named after her, the "[[Amanar|Amânar]]."<ref name = fig>[http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5187-188050-205272-nav-list,00.html FIG] Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points 2009–2012, page 163</ref> It involves a round-off entry onto the vaulting table followed by a laid-out salto with 2{{frac|1|2}} twists. She first competed this skill at the 2000 Olympics. The vault is currently worth 6.3 points in the Women's Code of Points.
The [[Amanar|Amânar]] vault<ref name = fig>[http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5187-188050-205272-nav-list,00.html FIG] Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points 2009–2012, page 163</ref> involves a round-off entry onto the vaulting table followed by a laid-out salto with 2{{frac|1|2}} twists. Amânar first competed this skill at the 2000 Olympics. It has a difficulty score of 6.3 in the women's [[Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)|Code of Points]].


==Post retirement==
==Post retirement==
Amânar retired in 2000, shortly after the Olympic Games. She married Cosmin Tabără, a lawyer, on March 9, 2002, in [[Timişoara]]. She gave birth to a son, Alexandru Iosif, five months later. She is the vice president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.
Amânar retired in 2000, shortly after the Olympic Games. She married Cosmin Tabără, a lawyer, on March 9, 2002, in [[Timişoara]], and gave birth to a son, Alexandru Iosif, five months later. She is the vice president of the [[Romanian Gymnastics Federation]].


==Competitive history==
==Competitive history==

Revision as of 06:16, 31 July 2016

Simona Amânar
File:Simona Amânar sep19.jpg
Simona Amânar at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Personal information
Full nameSimona Amânar
Nickname(s)Simi
Country represented Romania
Born (1979-10-07) October 7, 1979 (age 44)
Constanta, Romania
Height158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International
GymDeva National Training Center
Head coach(es)Octavian Bellu
Assistant coach(es)Mariana Bitang
Eponymous skillsAmânar (vault)
Retired2000
Medal record
Representing  Romania
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Vault
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Team
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney All-Around
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Floor Exercise
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Team
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta All-Around
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Floor Exercise
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Dortmund Team
Gold medal – first place 1995 Sabae Team
Gold medal – first place 1995 Sabae Vault
Gold medal – first place 1997 Lausanne Team
Gold medal – first place 1997 Lausanne Vault
Gold medal – first place 1999 Tianjin Team
Silver medal – second place 1996 San Juan Vault
Silver medal – second place 1997 Lausanne All-Around
Silver medal – second place 1999 Tianjin Vault
Silver medal – second place 1999 Tianjin Floor Exercise
World Cup Final
Gold medal – first place 1998 Sabae Vault
Gold medal – first place 1998 Sabae Floor Exercise
Silver medal – second place 2000 Glasgow Vault
Silver medal – second place 2000 Glasgow Balance Beam
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Glasgow Floor Exercise
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Stockholm Team
Gold medal – first place 1996 Birmingham Team
Gold medal – first place 1996 Birmingham Vault
Gold medal – first place 1996 Birmingham Uneven Bars
Gold medal – first place 1998 St Petersburg Team
Gold medal – first place 2000 Paris Vault
Silver medal – second place 1998 St Petersburg All-Around
Silver medal – second place 1998 St Petersburg Vault
Silver medal – second place 2000 Paris Balance Beam
Bronze medal – third place 1998 St Petersburg Balance Beam
Bronze medal – third place 1998 St Petersburg Floor Exercise
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Paris Team

Simona Amânar (Romanian pronunciation: [siˈmona amɨˈnar]; born October 7, 1979, in Constanţa) is a Romanian former artistic gymnast. She is a seven-time Olympic medalist and a ten-time World Championships medalist.

Amânar helped Romania win four consecutive world team titles (1994–1999), as well as the 2000 Olympic team title. She is also the 2000 Olympic all-around champion. She has a vault named after her and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2007.[1]

1994–95

In 1994, her first year on the senior national team, Amânar contributed to Romania's team titles at the World and European Championships.

She began to excel as an individual performer at the 1995 European Cup, placing second in the all-around behind Svetlana Khorkina of Russia and winning gold on both vault and floor exercise. At the 1995 World Championships, she helped Romania secure its second consecutive world team title and became co-champion on vault (with all-around winner Lilia Podkopayeva of Ukraine). Amânar's powerful floor routine and vaults put her in the lead after two rotations in the all-around, but she dropped to fourth after an average uneven bars routine and a shaky balance beam routine.

1996

Amânar won a silver medal on vault at the 1996 World Championships, behind teammate Gina Gogean and ahead of Cuba's Annia Portuondo-Hatch.

At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Amânar was one of the front-runners for several individual medals, but her Olympics started inauspiciously when she fell off the beam during the compulsories. Though she later posted the highest all-around score in the optionals (39.387), her combined compulsory and optionals scores put her fourth among her teammates, and she did not qualify for the final.[2] However, in a scenario similar to the Unified Team's substitution of Tatiana Gutsu for Rozalia Galiyeva at the 1992 Olympics,[3] Amânar replaced her teammate Alexandra Marinescu in the all-around final.[2] The Romanian head coach, Octavian Bellu, said that Amânar deserved to compete because she had worked harder and was a better athlete than Marinescu. Amânar ended up sharing the bronze medal with teammate Lavinia Miloşovici, behind Gogean.[2]

In both the 1996 Olympic all-around and the 1995 World Championships all-around, Amânar failed to score over 9.800 on the floor exercise despite well-executed and extremely difficult tumbling. In the Olympics, she scored a 9.887 in the team optionals (the highest score of the entire Olympics on any event, for men or women), but only a 9.737 in the all-around. She did not start from a 10.0 in the all-around—despite having the most tumbling bonus points of anyone at the Games—because her tour jeté half-turn (Strug), a C element, was not completed. Thus, she did not have enough simple A, B, and C skills, and much of her D- and E-rated tumbling had to count as easier elements to fulfill those requirements.

The requirements for a 9.4 base score, for each level of competition, were as follows:

  • Competition I (team optionals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs
  • Competition II (all-around): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 1 D
  • Competition III (event finals): 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs, 2 Ds.

Amânar did not perform a double turn in the team optionals or the all-around because it was not necessary as long as she completed her Strug. However, when she failed to complete the Strug, four of her six tenths in D and E elements had to count toward requirements, which left her with only .2 counting toward her bonus. Without the error, Amânar would have finished ahead of Gogean and Miloşovici.

In the event finals, Amânar completed her Strug and added a double turn to fulfill the more stringent Competition III requirements. She earned a 9.850 and the silver medal, behind Podkopayeva and just ahead of Dominique Dawes of the United States. She won the vault final the day before, largely because of her 9.875 score for her double-twisting Yurchenko vault.[4] She left the 1996 Olympics with four medals, including Romania's team bronze.[5]

1997–99

Romania won its third straight team title at the 1997 World Championships. Amânar again replaced a higher-scoring Marinescu in the all-around competition and won the silver medal behind Russia's Khorkina, followed by a gold medal on vault.

In the 1999 World Championships, Amânar led the Romanian team to a fourth consecutive title (there was no Worlds competition in 1998). However, she fell off the bars during the all-around and placed well out of the medals. She also lost her vaulting title to Russia's Elena Zamolodchikova, who dominated that event in the following years due to a more difficult second vault: a double-twisting Tsukahara. Amânar won her only medal of the competition on the floor, taking home the silver behind teammate Andreea Răducan.

2000

At the 2000 Summer Olympics, the Romanians edged out the Russians to take the team title—their first since 1984 and their first ever in a non-boycotted Olympics.[6]

In the all-around, the vaulting horse was set too low by the Olympic organizers, and the favorite for the title, Svetlana Khorkina, fell on her signature vault.[7] Several other gymnasts fell or stumbled because of the same problem. Many went on to make mistakes on their next event, knowing their medal chances were gone, only to be informed later of the error and their chance to vault again.[7][8] The three Romanian women either managed to perform well on the faulty vault or vaulted after the mistake had been corrected. They swept the medals, with Răducan winning the gold, Amânar the silver, and Maria Olaru the bronze.[9]

Răducan was subsequently found to have used a cold medicine containing a banned substance. Although her results in other events were allowed to stand, she was stripped of her all-around gold medal, which went to Amânar.[10][11] Initially, Amânar refused to accept the medal, insisting that Răducan had rightfully earned the title. Olaru took the same stance when the silver was awarded to her.[12] However, they eventually reconsidered and decided to bring the medals home to Romania as symbolic victories of the country.[13] Amânar continued to insist, however, that Răducan was the true Olympic all-around champion.[14]

In the event finals, Amânar had the opportunity to defend her Olympic vault title from four years earlier. However, she stumbled badly while debuting a new vault (a 21⁄2 twisting laid-out Yurchenko, which was then named after her), and did not win a medal. She went on to win bronze on floor exercise after losing points for a step out of bounds on her last tumbling pass.

Legacy

Amânar ranks highly on the list[citation needed] of most medaled gymnasts, with 17 World and Olympic medals. She played a large role in the four consecutive World team titles and Olympic title that established Romania as the top-ranked women's gymnastics team in the world.

Eponymous skills

The Amânar vault[15] involves a round-off entry onto the vaulting table followed by a laid-out salto with 21⁄2 twists. Amânar first competed this skill at the 2000 Olympics. It has a difficulty score of 6.3 in the women's Code of Points.

Post retirement

Amânar retired in 2000, shortly after the Olympic Games. She married Cosmin Tabără, a lawyer, on March 9, 2002, in Timişoara, and gave birth to a son, Alexandru Iosif, five months later. She is the vice president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation.

Competitive history

Year Event AA Team VT UB BB FX
1993 China Cup 3rd
Romanian Nationals 5th 2nd 3rd
1994 American Cup 9th
European Championships 1st
GBR-ROM Dual Meet 3rd 1st
International Mixed Pairs 6th
Massilia Elite 5th 2nd
USA-ROM Dual Meet 7th 1st
Team World Championships 1st
1995 European Cup 2nd 1st 5th 3rd 1st
FRA-ROM Dual Meet 2nd 1st
French International 3rd 3rd 5th
GBR-ROM Dual Meet 3rd 1st
Kosice Cup 2nd 2nd 2nd
ROM-GER Dual Meet 3rd 1st
Romanian Nationals 2nd
World Championships 4th 1st 1st 6th
1996 European Championships 4th 1st 1st 1st 7th
French International 3rd 5th
Hungarian International 1st
ITA-BLR-ROM-RUS Meet 2nd
International Championships of Romania 1st
World Championships 2nd
Olympic Games 3rd 3rd 1st 5th 2nd
1997
World Championships 2nd 1st 1st
Chunichi Cup 2nd
Blume Memorial 2nd
DTB Cup 1st 6th 3rd
Arthur Gander Memorial 1st
1998 European Championships 2nd 1st 2nd
Chunichi Cup 6th
DTB Cup 1st 2nd 1st 2nd
Romanian International 1st 2nd 1st 1st
Swiss Cup 3rd 2nd 2nd 3rd
1999
World Championships 14th 1st 2nd 2nd
Chunichi Cup 2nd
Arthur Gander Memorial 2nd
Romanian International 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st
International Mixed Pairs 1st 1st
2000 European Championships 8th 3rd 1st 2nd 5th
Olympic Games 1st 1st 6th 3rd
Chunichi Cup 1st
Cottbus World Cup 2nd 7th 2nd
Romanian International 2nd
National Championships 1st

See also

References

  1. ^ "Simona Amanar - The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame". www.ighof.com. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c Clarey, Christopher (1996-07-26). "U.S. Gymnasts Take Back Seat in All-Around". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  3. ^ Glauber, Bill (1992-07-31). "Zmeskal steps out, then down: World champion is tearful 10th as Gutsu, Miller reign". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  4. ^ Penner, Mike (1996-07-29). "After the Rest Bow Out, Chow Gets Silver Medal". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  5. ^ "Simona Amanar". olympic.org. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  6. ^ Roberts, Selena (2000-09-20). "Romania Conquers and Americans Are Left Divided". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  7. ^ a b Pells, Eddie (2000-09-21). "Gymnastics: Olympic Vault Set Too Low". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  8. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (2000-09-22). "`Unthinkable' Error Mars Gymnastics Competition". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  9. ^ Roberts, Selena (2000-09-22). "Romania Sweeps as Controversy Swirls". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  10. ^ Roberts, Selena (2000-09-26). "Gymnast Tests Positive and Loses Gold". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  11. ^ Pucin, Diane (2000-09-26). "Romanian Teenager Stripped of Gold". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  12. ^ "Romanian gymnastics team gives up two all-around medals". juneauempire.com. 2000-09-26. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  13. ^ Chaudhary, Vivek (2000-09-29). "Bitter pill as tiny gymnast loses gold". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  14. ^ "Amanar retires as Raducan feted". BBC News. 2000-10-01. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  15. ^ FIG Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points 2009–2012, page 163
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