Gymnast Larisa Iordache, the leader of Romania’s senior women’s national team, decided to retire from sports at the age of 25. She ended her career after undergoing seven leg surgeries. Larisa Iordache underwent a new operation in Vienna at the beginning of December, after the accident registered at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which forced her to withdraw from the beam final.
The Romanian gymnast stated: “I made the decision to leave this beautiful dream of mine, gymnastics. I will retire for peace of mind. I will have no more thoughts of being mentally tested. But fortunately for me, I am retiring.” Larisa Iordache said explaining that her health problems led her to make this decision.
The young Larisa Iordache concludes an intense chapter in her life, one that brought Romania to the world’s attention. The sportswoman has 16 European medals, being the second most sports medalist at this level, after the legendary Russian Svetlana Horkina. Also, of the 24 medals won during her international activity, one is an Olympic bronze, two silver medals at the World Championships and another seven are gold at the European Championships.
Larisa Iordache retired shortly after another Romanian gymnast, the multiple Olympic and world champion Marian Drăgulesc took this step. He decided to retire after returning from the World Championships in Kitakyushu (Japan) in October. In his career he won 3 medals at the Olympic Games (1 silver, 2 bronze), 10 at the World Championships (8 gold, 2 silver) and 18 at the European Championships (10 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze).
Source: AIPS