Larisa Iordache

Larisa Iordache
— Gymnast —
Personal information
Full name Larisa Andreea Iordache
Nickname(s) Pikachu, Piciul
Country represented  Romania
Born June 19, 1996
Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight 37 kg (82 lb; 5 st 12 lb)[2]
Discipline Women's artistic gymnastics
Level Senior International Elite
Years on national team 2008-present
Club CSS Dinamo
Head coach(es) Octavian Bellu
Assistant coach(es) Mariana Bitang, Florin Cotutiu
Former coach(es) Lacramioara Moldovan, Claudiu Moldovan, Gheorghe Orban, Ramona Micu, Adela Popa, Daniel Nistor, Aurica Nistor
Choreographer Corina Dorean
Music Jaiya Ho from Ramayana: The Epic
World ranking 4 (CII All Around, 2013-14) [3]

Larisa Andreea Iordache (Romanian pronunciation: [laˈrisa anˈdree̯a jorˈdake]; born 19 June 1996 in Bucharest) is a Romanian artistic gymnast that competed at the 2012 Olympics, and she is the current leader of Romania's senior women's artistic gymnastics team. As early as 2008, the Romanian press was referring to her as "The New Nadia" due to the potential that she had.[4] In her first year as a senior, Iordache won two gold medals at the 2012 European Champions with her team and on the floor. She went on to represent Romania at the 2012 Olympics where she won a bronze medal in the team final. In 2013 she became the European champion on beam, and the bronze medalist on floor at the World Championships. She was the most successful gymnast at the 2014 European Championships, winning gold with her team and on floor, silver on beam, and bronze on vault. At the 2014 World Championships, Iordache finished second in the all-around and on floor to Simone Biles. She is an 8-time gold medalist in the World Cups.

Personal information

Larisa Iordache was born in Bucharest, Romania, where she still lives today. Her favorite gymnast is the famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci. She has an older brother, Răzvan. Iordache got into gymnastics when she was spotted by her first coach, Mariana Câmpeanu-Silişteanu, rollerblading.[4] "I think she noticed the speed and the energy and that impressed her," Iordache said. "I didn't choose gymnastics -- it chose me. It just happened. I am very glad to have got so far."[5]

Junior career

Iordache in 2009

Iordache began training at CSS Dinamo Club in Bucharest at the age of four and a half. In 2008, she became a member of the national junior team. She was then coached by Ramona Micu, Adela Popa, Lacramioara Moldovan, and Claudiu Moldovan.[4]

2010

Iordache's first major international competition was the European Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She contributed an all around score of 55.550 towards the Romanian team's second place finish behind Russia[6] and individually she placed third in the all around final behind Viktoria Komova and Anastasia Grishina with a score of 55.675.[7] In event finals, she placed fourth on vault scoring 13.862, second on balance beam scoring 14.575, and tied first on floor with Anastasia Grishina scoring 14.275.[8]

In September, Iordache competed at the Romanian Championships in Reșița. She won the all around competition with a score of 58.400, nearly four points ahead of second place Diana Bulimar.[9]

In October, Iordache competed at the Schiltigheim International in Schiltigheim, France. She won the all around final with a score of 58.000. She placed second on vault behind Elodie Perez scoring 14.350, first on uneven bars scoring 14.250, first on balance beam scoring 14.900, and first on floor scoring 14.500.[10]

2011

In June, Iordache competed at the Gym Festival in Trnava, Slovakia, where 29 gymnasts from nine countries competed. She won the all around final with a score of 59.500, and she finished nearly two points ahead of two-time Olympian Anna Pavlova (gymnast). In event finals, she placed first on uneven bars scoring 14.250, first on balance beam scoring 15.600, and first on floor scoring 14.850.[11]

Later in June, Iordache competed in an international meet against Great Britain in Lilleshall. The Romanian team finished in first, and they outscored the British on all events except the uneven bars. Iordache won the all-around title with a score of 58.300, nearly five points ahead of British silver medalist Gabby Jupp.[12]

In May, Iordache competed as a guest at the French Team Championships, held in Toulouse. She contributed an all around score of 58.800 towards Alliance Dijon's first place finish. The Alliance Dijon team included Iordache, Daniela Andrei, and Raluca Haidu from Romania, and French gymnasts Sophia Serseri, Laurie Antoniazzi, and Julie Roemer.[13]

In July, Iordache competed at the 2011 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival in Trabzon, Turkey. She contributed an all around score of 57.800 towards the Romanian team's second place finish[14][15] and individually she won the all around final with a score of 57.550.[16] In event finals, she placed second on vault scoring 14.225, second on uneven bars scoring 13.475, first on balance beam scoring 15.000 and first on floor scoring 14.275.[17]

Senior career

2012

At the beginning of March, Iordache competed at the American Cup in New York City, United States. She placed third in the all around competition behind Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman with a score of 59.332.[18]

At the end of March, Iordache competed at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha, Qatar. She placed fourth in the uneven bars final with a score of 14.525.[19]

In April, Iordache competed at an international meet against France in Cholet, France. She helped Romania to win the team competition and individually she won the all around with a score of 60.150.[20]

Later in April, Iordache competed at an international meet against Germany and the United Kingdom in Ulm, Germany. She helped Romania to win the team competition and individually she won the all around with a score of 59.750.[21]

In May, Iordache competed at the 2012 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Brussels, Belgium. She contributed an all around score of 58.757 towards the Romanian team's first place finish. In event finals, she placed second on balance beam behind teammate Cătălina Ponor with a score of 15.133 and first on floor with a score of 15.233.[22]

At the beginning of July, Iordache competed at an international meet against France, Germany, and Italy in her hometown, Bucharest. She helped Romania to win the team competition and individually she won the all around with a score of 60.850.[23]

Iordache (second from the left) with the 2012 Olympic Romanian team

London Olympics

At the end of July, Iordache represented Romania at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[24] Prior to the competition, she developed Plantar fasciitis in her left foot causing severe pain. Her coach, Mariana Bitang said, "We don't know what will happen — it depends how things go after this. If she's fine, she will do all events to qualify to the all-around final. It's hard to say now."[25] During podium training, Iordache only did full routines on the uneven bars and the balance beam. Mariana Bitang said it was a "50 percent chance" of whether she would be able to compete on all four events.[26] However, Iordache did compete on all four events in the qualification round, and she helped Romania finish fourth in qualifications.[27] and individually she qualified to the all around final with a score of 57.800.[28] In the team final, she contributed scores of 14.800 on vault, 13.766 on uneven bars, and 15.300 on balance beam toward the Romanian team's third place finish behind Russia and the United States.[29] Iordache said, "You always want to do better, but any Olympic medal is important for a team. We are happy."[30] She placed ninth in the all around final with a score of 57.965[31] and sixth in the balance beam final with a score of 14.200.[32] The Olympics were Iordache's last competition of the season.

2013

Iordache performing on floor during the all-around final at the 2013 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium on 4 October 2013

At the 6th Doha FIG World Challenge Cup in Qatar, Iordache placed second on the vault final behind Phan Thi Ha Thanh with a score of 14.675, and seventh on the uneven bars final with a score of 13.325 on 28 March 2013.[33] On 29 March, she placed first on the balance beam final ahead of Zeng Siqi and Gabrielle Jupp with a score of 15.500, and second on the floor exercise final behind Diana Bulimar with a score of 14.425.[34]

At the 2013 European Championships in Moscow, Iordache had a fantastic start qualifying first to the all around finals and beam finals, second to floor finals, and fourth to vault finals. At the all around finals, Iordache had a great start, performing a routine of the score 14.833 on beam, 14.866 on floor, and 14.9 on vault. In the final rotation, she performed an average routine on bars and scored 13.833, which bumped her to second place after Aliya Mustafina of Russia. In the vault final on 20 April, Iordache tied with Dutch gymnast Noel van Klaveren for second place with a score of 14.466.[35] After this she won silver in the floor final and gold in the beam final.

At the 2013 Anadia World Grand Prix she won gold on beam (15.650) and floor (14.650, tied with Diana Bulimar).[36]

In October, Iordache competed at the 2013 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. In the all-around final, she finished fourth due to a fall from the beam on her back handspring full twist.[37] She fell on the same skill in the beam finals and scored 13.933 for seventh place. However, in the floor exercise final, she managed to grab the bronze medal behind Simone Biles and Vanessa Ferrari with a double twisting double tuck, a full twisting double tuck and a double pike. This was her first medal in the World Championships.

2014

Iordache at the 2014 European Championships

In March Iordache competed at the Doha World Challenger Cup where she won gold on vault, beam, and floor.[38] In April, Iordache helped her team win gold at the France-Romania-Belgium Tri-Friendly meet. She had the highest scores of the competition on all apparatus, and she won the all-around title by 3 points over teammate Diana Bulimar.[39]

At the 2014 European Championships, Iordache was the most successful gymnast.[40] She was the only one to qualify to all four apparatus finals,[41] the only one to win two gold medals[42] and the most decorated gymnast of the championships (with a total of four).[43][44] Iordache was also voted as "Miss European Championships" in the 2014 edition. She said, "I am surprised and really happy to receive such a recognition. I didn`t expect it! For me the most important thing was the competition, but here you are, I am now honoured to be Miss European Championships – how nice!" [45]

The Romanian National Gymnastics Championships were held in September, and Iordache won 4 of the 5 gold medals. She won the all-around competition with 59.650, beating second place Ștefania Stănilă by nearly 4 points. The only gold she didn't win was on balance beam, where Andreea Munteanu won gold while Iordache took silver.[46] Later that week, Iordache competed at the Switzerland-Germany-Romania Tri-Friendly meet in Obersiggenthal, Switzerland, and the Romanian team finished second behind Germany. She won the all-around competition, finishing nearly 2 points ahead of second place Giulia Steingruber.[47]

In October, Iordache was named to the Romanian team for the 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, China. After the team finished 7th in the qualification round,[48] she led the largely inexperienced Romanian team to a 4th place finish.[49] Individually, she won a silver medal in the All Around competition, behind Simone Biles and ahead of Kyla Ross.[50] Afterwards she said, "It is a good result. I am quite pleased with what I did today, but that does not mean I can not do even better.[51] Everything is possible at any one competition. Today I did not get gold but next time there is always a chance."[52] In the beam final Iordache fell on her back handspring tuck full series, and she finished in 5th. Later that day, she won the silver medal in the floor final behind Simone Biles. At the end of the competition she said, "After I lost on beam, it was so difficult for me to come back. It was fortunate that I came back well on floor, and I was happy to finally perform my routine without mistakes. I want to practice and practice so I can hit all of my elements and add difficulty. Time will tell if I am able to someday beat her (Simone Biles). It’s hard to say what the future will bring. Next year is next year...we will see then. But I will try my best." [53]

After the World Championships, she participated in the Arthur Gander Memorial placing second behind Russian Daria Spiridonova.[54] At the end of the year, Iordache competed in the Stuttgart and Glasgow World Cups. In Stuttgart, she won the all-around title with a score of 59.766 ahead of Jessica López and Kim Bùi. She received the highest score on every event except the uneven bars.[55] In Glasgow, Iordache posted the highest score on every event to take home the all-around gold with 59.232. She finished nearly three points ahead of silver medalist Ellie Black.[56]

2015

Larisa was named to the European team. According to WOGymnastika, she will miss the European Games due to her high school exams. [57]

Competitive history

Iordache (center) with Diana Bulimar and Sandra Izbașa
Iordache in 2015
Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
2009Top Gym Trophy 3rd 1st 7th 1st
2010Romanian International Championships 1st 1st
European Championships 2nd 3rd 2nd 4th
2011Gym-Festival 1st
ROU-GBR Friendly 1st
French Championships1st
European Youth Summer Olympic Festival2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 1st1st
2012American Cup 3rd
Doha World Cup 5th
European Championships 1st 2nd 1st
FRA-ROU Friendly 1st 1st
GER-GBR-ROU Friendly 1st 1st
Olympic Games 3rd 9th 6th
2013Doha World Cup 2nd 6th 1st 2nd
European Championships 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd
Anadia World Cup 1st 1st
Romanian National Championships 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd
World Championships 4th 7th 3rd
Stuttgart World Cup 2nd
Glasgow World Cup 1st
2014Doha World Cup 1st 1st 1st
BEL-FRA-ROU Friendly 1st 1st
European Championships 1st 3rd 6th 2nd 1st
Romanian National Championships 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st
SUI-GER-ROU Friendly 2nd 1st 1st 3rd 1st 1st
World Championships 4th 2nd 5th 2nd
Arthur Gander Memorial 2nd
Stuttgart World Cup 1st
Glasgow World Cup 1st

See also

References

  1. ↑ Larisa Iordache. sports-reference.com
  2. ↑ "Larisa Andreea Iordache". BBC. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  3. ↑ "Women's Artistic Gymnastics World Ranking Lists". International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Popa, Loreta (9 March 2008). "Noua Nadia" [New Nadia]. The Journal (in Romanian). Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Morley, Gary; Appiah, Lidz-Ama (16 October 2014). "Larisa Iordache: The rise of the 'new Nadia Comaneci'". CNN. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  6. ↑ TEAM DETAILLED RESULTS JUNIORS TEAM COMPETITION AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR CII & CI. 28th EUROPEAN ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS, BIRMINGHAM (GBR) April 28th May 2nd 2010
  7. ↑ "Komova Wins Junior European Title". International Gymnast Magazine. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  8. ↑ "Tweddle, Russia Bid Golden Farewell to Birmingham". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  9. ↑ "Porgras, Koczi Defend Romanian Titles". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  10. ↑ "France, Romania Best in Schiltigheim". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  11. ↑ "Iordache Invincible at Gym-Festival of Trnava". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  12. ↑ "Iordache Leads Romania Over British Juniors". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2011-06-18. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  13. ↑ "Guests Star at French Team Championships". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  14. ↑ TEAM RESULTS. trabzon2011.org
  15. ↑ INDIVIDUALS RESULTS. trabzon2011.org
  16. ↑ INDIVIDUALS RESULTS. trabzon2011.org
  17. ↑ Apparatus Results. trabzon2011.org
  18. ↑ Meet Results Women. 2012 AT&T American Cup. usagym.org
  19. ↑ 5TH FIG ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS CHALLENGE CUP. sportcentric.com (29 March 201)
  20. ↑ "Iordache Powers Romania to First in France". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  21. ↑ "Iordache, Romania Unbeatable in Ulm". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  22. ↑ 9–13 May Brussels 2012. Women's Artistic Gymnastics European Championship. sportcentric.com
  23. ↑ "Romanians Rule in Bucharest Quad Meet". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  24. ↑ List of participants. London 2012 Olympic Games Women Artistics Gymnastics
  25. ↑ "Iordache Questionable For Olympic All-Around". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
  26. ↑ "Larisa Iordache has plantar fasciitis". ESPN. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  27. ↑ Results Team. fig-docs.com. Retrieved on 2013-03-31.
  28. ↑ Results. Qualification. Women. Gymnastics Artistic. fig-docs.com (29 July 2012)
  29. ↑ Results. Final. Women's Team. Gymnastics Artistic. fig-docs.com (31 July 2012)
  30. ↑ 2012 London Olympic Games : Full Story. Figlive.sportcentric.com (2012-07-31). Retrieved on 2013-03-31.
  31. ↑ Results. Final. Women's Individual All-Around. Gymnastics Artistic. fig-docs.com (2 August 2012)
  32. ↑ Results. Final – Beam. Women's Apparatus. Gymnastics Artistic. fig-docs.com (7 August 2012)
  33. ↑ "Five Take Titles at Doha World Challenge Cup". International Gymnast Magazine Online. 28 Mar 2013. Retrieved 21 Apr 2013.
  34. ↑ "Romania Rules Final Day at Doha Challenge Cup". International Gymnast Magazine Online. 29 Mar 2013. Retrieved 21 Apr 2013.
  35. ↑ Amanda Turner (20 Apr 2013). "British Men Win Twice in European Finals". International Gymnast Magazine Online. Retrieved 21 Apr 2013.
  36. ↑ Turner, Amanda (23 July 2013). "Iordache Takes Two Titles at Anadia World Cup". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "Simone Biles Claims Her First World Title!". Antwerp 2013 World Championships. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  38. ↑ Turner, Amanda (28 March 2014). "Iordache, Zonderland Take Double Gold in Doha". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  39. ↑ Turner, Amanda (21 April 2014). "Romania Dominates Against Belgium, France". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  40. ↑ Turner, Amanda (18 May 2014). "Five Nations Golden As Europeans End". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Turner, Amanda (15 May 2014). "British Women, Iordache Impress in Sofia". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  42. ↑ Lungu, Adrian (19 May 2014). "Două titluri europene pentru România la CE de gimnastică" [Two European titles at the European gymnastics Romania]. Telegraf (in Romanian). SC Telegraph Advertising. Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  43. ↑ Manda, Carmen (18 May 2014). "Larisa Iordache, 2014 Europeans’ most successful gymnast". Romanian Gymnast. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  44. ↑ Călin, Andrei (19 May 2014). "Larisa Iordache, regina Europenelor de gimnastică" [Larisa Iordache, Queen gymnastics European Championships]. EVZ (in Romanian). Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  45. ↑ "Romania wins nine medals at the European Gymnastics Championships: 2 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze". Business Review. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  46. ↑ Turner, Amanda (1 September 2014). "Iordache Takes Four Golds at Romanian Nationals". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  47. ↑ Turner, Amanda (7 September 2014). "German Teams Top Romania, Switzerland". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  48. ↑ "Women's Qualification Team Results" (PDF). Nanning 2014. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  49. ↑ "Women's Team Final Results" (PDF). Nanning 2014. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  50. ↑ "Simone Biles repeats as women's All-around World champion". FIG. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  51. ↑ "Quotables: Nanning 2014 Women's All-around Final". FIG. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  52. ↑ Hopkins, Lauren (10 October 2014). "The All-Arounders in Their Own Words". The Gymternet. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  53. ↑ Hopkins, Lauren (12 October 2014). "The Gymnasts React to Floor Exercise Finals". The Gymternet. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  54. ↑ Hopkins, Lauren (30 October 2014). "Spiridonova Defeats Iordache at Arthur Gander Memorial". The Gymternet. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  55. ↑ Turner, Amanda (29 November 2014). "Iordache Wins Stuttgart World Cup". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  56. ↑ Turner, Amanda (6 December 2014). "Iordache, Vernyayev Defend Titles in Glasgow". International Gymnast Magazine Online. International Gymnast Magazine. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  57. ↑ http://www.wogymnast.com/2015/02/larisa-iordache-out-of-european-games.html |website=WOGymnastika|

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