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Roxana Popa

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Popa and the second or maternal family name is Nedelcu.
Roxana Popa
Popa in 2014
Personal information
Full nameRoxana Daniela Popa Nedelcu
Nickname(s)Roxi
Country represented Spain
Born (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997 (age 27)
Constanța, Constanța County, Dobruja, Romania
ResidenceMadrid, Spain
Height1.51 m (4 ft 11 in)[1]
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
LevelSenior International Elite
Years on national team2012–16, 2019–present (ESP)
ClubLos Cantos Alcorcon
GymCARD
Head coach(es)Lucia Guisado
Medal record
Representing  Spain
FIG World Cup
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
All-Around World Cup 0 1 0

Roxana Daniela Popa Nedelcu (born 2 June 1997)[2] is a Romanian-born Spanish artistic gymnast. As member of the Spain women's national gymnastics team, she competed at the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 World Championships, as well as the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Popa was born on 2 June 1997 in Constanța, Romania, and began gymnastics when she was four years old. She moved to Madrid with her family when she was six years old.[3] She competed at the Spanish Championships in 2008, and despite winning every event, she did not receive any medals as she did not yet have her Spanish citizenship. This was featured in a documentary by Informe Robinson. In mid-2008 she received Spanish citizenship.[4]

After she was finally cleared to compete for Spain, she sustained an elbow injury training on uneven bars, which required two surgeries and intensive rehab, leaving her out of competition for a few years.[1][5]

Junior career

Popa represented Spain at the 2012 European Championships. She qualified for the all-around and vault final and was a third reserve for the floor final. She ended up placing sixth in the vault final and eleventh in the all-around.[6]

Senior career

2013

Popa's senior debut came in 2013, at the Cottbus World Cup, where she did not make any event finals.[7] Later that month, she was named to the Spanish team for the European Championships. While there, she qualified fifth in the all-around and seventh in the floor exercise final. She placed sixth in the all-around final and seventh on floor exercise.[8] In June, she competed in the Mediterranean Games and finished fifth in the uneven bars final.[9] She was named to the Spanish team for the World Championships at the end of summer. During qualifications, Popa qualified tenth for the all-around final, but missed out on the event finals.[10] She placed twelfth in the all-around final.[11] After the World Championships, she won the all-around gold medal at the Mexico Open ahead of Americans Maggie Nichols and Peyton Ernst.[12] She ended that season at the Glasgow World Cup where she finished fifth.[13]

2014

In early 2014, Popa was announced as a competitor for the American Cup taking place on March 1 and the Tokyo World Cup on April 5–6.[14][15] She finished sixth in the all-around at the American Cup due to mistakes on the uneven bars.[16] At the Tokyo World Cup, she finished in second place behind Vanessa Ferrari of Italy after falling off the balance beam.[17] Later that month she competed at a friendly meet against gymnasts from Great Britain and Germany, winning all-around gold and team bronze.[18] In early May, she competed at the Spanish Cup, winning every event except the balance beam, on which she finished in fifth place.[19] A few weeks later, she competed at the European Championships, placing sixth with her team, seventh on floor exercise, and eighth on uneven bars.[20] Then in July, she competed at the Spanish Nationals, winning the all-around title and gold on every individual event except balance beam, where she won silver.[21] At the World Championships she finished thirteenth in the all-around final.[22]

After the World Championships, Popa won the all-around gold at the Joaquin Blume Memorial.[23] She was scheduled to compete at the Mexico Open and was considered the front-runner to win, but suffered a knee injury in training the morning of the competition and withdrew.[24] The injury was diagnosed as a torn ACL and meniscus rip and required surgery.[25] Upon diagnosis, her doctors discovered the injury was an old one and had gone unnoticed until December.[26]

2015–18

Popa returned to competition in October 2015, competing at the Novara Cup on the uneven bars. The Spanish team finished fourth, and Popa had the third-highest score on the uneven bars behind Jessica López and Larisa Iordache.[27] Later that month, she represented Spain at the World Championships but only competed on uneven bars. The Spanish team finished seventeenth in the qualification round.[28]

Popa was scheduled to compete at the Olympic Test Event in April 2016; however, in March she re-injured her right knee causing a meniscus rupture which prevented her from qualifying to the 2016 Olympic Games.[29] She underwent arthroscopic surgery on her meniscus, and two months later, she had another surgery on her meniscus. In 2017, she had a third surgery to rebuild her right ACL.[1] She was told by doctors that she would not be able to compete again.[5][30]

2019

Popa did not compete for three years. In January 2019, she announced that she would make her comeback at the Spanish League.[31] She only competed on the balance beam at the 1st Spanish League, helping her club finish sixth.[32] Then at the 2nd Spanish League, she competed on the uneven bars where she had the third-highest score, and her club finished fifth.[33] She also placed third on the uneven bars at the 3rd Spanish League.[34] At the Spanish League Finals, she vaulted for the first time since 2014 and placed third, and she won gold on the uneven bars.[35] She competed in the all-around for the first time since 2014 at the Spanish Championships.[5] She finished fourth all-around, and she won a silver medal on the uneven bars behind Ana Pérez.[36]

Popa made her international comeback at the Szombathely Challenge Cup where she won bronze on the uneven bars.[37] She next competed at the 2nd Heerenveen Friendly where she helped Spain finish second behind the Netherlands, and individually, she placed ninth in the all-around.[38]

At the 2019 World Championships, Popa, alongside teammates Cintia Rodríguez, Alba Petisco, Ana Pérez, and Marina González, finished twelfth as a team during qualifications. Although they did not qualify to the team final, they qualified a team to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, giving Spain its first team berth at the Olympic Games since 2004.[39][40] Individually, Popa qualified for the floor exercise final where she finished sixth.[5] After the World Championships, she only competed on the balance beam at the 1st Spanish League, and her club finished eighth.[41]

2020

Popa was scheduled to compete at the American Cup, but she withdrew and was replaced by Alba Petisco.[42] In February, she had the highest score on the uneven bars and the third highest score on the balance beam at the 2nd Spanish League.[43]

2021

In June, Popa won the gold medal on floor at the FIT Challenge.[44] She was selected to the Spanish women's artistic gymnastics team for the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Marina González, Alba Petisco and Laura Bechdejú.[45] The team finished twelfth in qualifications and did not reach the final.[46] Individually, Popa qualified for the all-around final where she finished twenty-second.[47]

After the Olympic Games, Popa competed at the 2nd Spanish League where she had the highest scores on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam and helped her club win the silver medal.[48] Then at the 3rd Spanish League, she had the highest scores on the uneven bars and balance beam.[49] She then won the all-around title at the Spanish Championships.[50] At the Spanish League Finals, she won gold on the uneven bars and helped her club finish second.[51]

2022-23

In November 2022, Popa returned to competition at the 1st Spanish League. She only competed on the uneven bars and had the third-highest score.[52] Then in February 2023, she competed on the uneven bars and balance beam at the 2nd Spanish League, helping her club finish fourth.[53]

Personal life

Besides her native language, Romanian, Popa is also fluent in Spanish and English.[1] Her idols are Romanian gymnasts Nadia Comăneci, Cătălina Ponor, and Larisa Iordache.[3]

In addition to gymnastics, Popa has been involved in dancing since she was seven years old, and has competed in national-level competitions. She taught dance at a school in Madrid while recovering from her knee injuries.[1]

Popa shared that during her three year hiatus from gymnastics due to knee injuries, she struggled with depression.[30]

Competitive History

Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2012
Junior European Championships 11 11 6
Senior
2013 Cottbus World Cup R3
European Championships 6 7
Mediterranean Games 5
World Championships 12
Mexico Open 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Glasgow World Cup 5
2014 American Cup 6
Tokyo World Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Munich Friendly 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Spanish Cup 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1st place, gold medalist(s)
European Championships 6 8 7
Spanish Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Novara Cup 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
World Championships 13
Joaquim Blume Memorial 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2015 Novara Cup 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
World Championships 17
2016 did not compete
2017
2018
2019 1st Spanish League 6
2nd Spanish League 5 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
3rd Spanish League 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Spanish League Final 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Spanish Championships 4 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Szombathely Challenge Cup 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2nd Heerenveen Friendly 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 9
World Championships R4 6
1st Spanish League 8
2020 2nd Spanish League 6 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2021 FIT Challenge 5 17 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Olympic Games 12 22
2nd Spanish League 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
3rd Spanish League 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Spanish Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6
Spanish League Finals 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2022 1st Spanish League 5 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2022 2nd Spanish League 4 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Roxana Popa Tokyo 2020 Athlete Profile". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Roxana Popa". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Interviu cu Roxana Popa, gimnasta noastră din lotul Spaniei" [Interview with Roxana Popa, our gymnast from the Spanish team]. Arena Sport (in Romanian). 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. ^ "La gimnasta de Pozuelo Roxana Popa consigue la nacionalidad española" [The gymnast from Pozuelo Roxana Popa obtains Spanish nationality]. Madridiario (in Spanish). 16 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Pérez, Ismael (15 July 2021). "Roxana Popa, una lucha contra su cuerpo: "Odié la gimnasia, pero en Tokio me motiva que por una vez me salga bien"" [Roxana Popa, a fight against her body: "I hated gymnastics, but in Tokyo it motivates me that for once I do well"]. Women's Health Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Brussels 2012 Results Book" (PDF). European Gymnastics. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (25 March 2013). "2013 Cottbus World Cup Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  8. ^ "The 5th European Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics Individual Championships in Moscow Results Book" (PDF). European Gymnastics. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (30 June 2013). "2013 Mediterranean Games Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  10. ^ "44th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp (BEL) Women's Qualification" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  11. ^ "44th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp (BEL) Women's All-Around Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (1 December 2013). "2013 Mexican Open Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Iordache, Verniaiev capture Glasgow World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Brenna Dowell completes American Cup roster". International Gymnastics Federation. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  15. ^ "World champion Kohei Uchimura returns for Tokyo World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  16. ^ "2014 AT&T American Cup Meet Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Uchimura, Ferrari take titles at the Tokyo World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  18. ^ Turner, Amanda (12 April 2014). "Harrold Leads Britain to Victory in Munich". International Gymnast Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  19. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (3 May 2014). "2014 Spanish Cup Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  20. ^ "30th European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Team Championships Juniors and Seniors Results Book" (PDF). European Gymnastics. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  21. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (6 July 2014). "2014 Spanish Championships Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  22. ^ "45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning (CHN) Women's All-Around Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Roxana Popa, Oleg Verniaiev best at Blume Memorial". International Gymnastics Federation. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  24. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (6 December 2014). "Emily Little Leads Abierto Mexicano, Popa Injured". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  25. ^ Feng, Kelly (13 November 2019). "The Miraculous Comeback Of Spain's Roxana Popa". FloGymnastics. FloSports. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  26. ^ Romano, Javier (3 January 2015). "Las piernas de hierro de Roxana" [Roxana's Iron Legs]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  27. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (10 October 2015). "2015 Novara Cup Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  28. ^ "46th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Glasgow (GBR) Women's Qualification" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  29. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (28 March 2015). "Popa Injured, Will Miss Olympic Games". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  30. ^ a b Hidalgo, Mamen (24 November 2019). "De no poder andar a ir a los Juegos Olímpicos: la segunda oportunidad de Roxana Popa" [From not being able to go to the Olympic Games: Roxana Popa's second chance]. Newtral (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Roxana Popa will compete for the first time in three years". Gymnovosti. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  32. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (11 February 2019). "2019 1st Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  33. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (26 March 2019). "2019 2nd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  34. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (30 April 2019). "2019 3rd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  35. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (18 June 2019). "2019 Spanish League Finals Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  36. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (13 July 2019). "2019 Spanish Championships Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Ukraine nab nine medals, Hungary shine at Szombathely World Challenge Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  38. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (14 September 2019). "2019 2nd Heerenveen Friendly Results". The Gymternet. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  39. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (26 October 2019). "Spain Stuns with Olympics-Worthy Performance, While Italy Snags Bronze". The Gymternet. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  40. ^ "El equipo español femenino de gimnasia artística se clasifica para Tokio 2020" [The Spanish women's artistic gymnastics team qualifies for Tokyo 2020]. RTVE (in Spanish). 5 October 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  41. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (10 December 2019). "2020 1st Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  42. ^ "World champions Nagornyy, Hurd, Verniaiev headline 2020 American Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  43. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (11 February 2020). "2020 2nd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  44. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (1 July 2021). "2021 FIT Challenge Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  45. ^ "Complete list of 2020 Olympic Athletes representing Spain". Spanish Olympic Committee (in Spanish). 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  46. ^ "Artistic Gymnastics - Women's Team Qualification Results" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  47. ^ "Artistic Gymnastics - Women's All-Around Final" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 29 July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  48. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (11 October 2021). "2021 2nd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  49. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (16 November 2021). "2021 3rd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  50. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (9 December 2021). "2021 Spanish Championships Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  51. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (12 December 2021). "2021 Spanish League Finals Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  52. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (22 November 2022). "2023 1st Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  53. ^ Hopkins, Lauren (7 February 2023). "2023 2nd Spanish League Results". The Gymternet. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
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