Romanian swimmer David Popovici and rowers Magdalena Rusu and Simona Radis have been nominated in the poll „Balkan Athlete of the Year” for 2025, conducted by the Bulgarian news agency BTA, now at its 52nd edition.

Popovici won two world titles this year in Singapore, in the 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle.

Maria Magdalena Rusu and Simona Radis claimed world and European gold in the women’s double sculls, as well as the first-ever world title in the mixed 8+1 event.

Weightlifter Mihaela Cambei, last year’s Olympic silver medallist in Paris, is also on the list of Romanian athletes with outstanding performances in 2025. She won one gold and two silver medals at the World Championships (53 kg category), three gold medals at the European Championships (49 kg category) and three golds at the Under-23 European Championships (53 kg category).

Gymnast Ana Barbosu, following her floor bronze at the 2025 Olympics, won the European title on the same apparatus, silver on the balance beam, bronze in the all-around and on the parallel bars.

The list of BTA agency nominations also includes wrestler Andreea Ana, who won bronze at the World Championships (55 kg category) and silver at the European Championships (53 kg category).

Romanian athletics is represented by Andrei Rares Toader, European indoor champion in the shot put.

Shooting sports feature two top performers: Laura Ilie, European champion in the individual event and bronze medallist with the team in the 10m air rifle and Peter Sidi, European champion and World Championship silver medallist in the 300m rifle three-position event.

And tennis player Sorana Cirstea is also nominated for her WTA title won this year in Cleveland.

The list also includes archer Ciprian Baican, European individual champion in barebow and bronze medallist with the team. AGERPRES