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Alina Dumitru (Romanian pronunciation: [aˈlina duˈmitru]; born 30 August 1982) is a Romanian judoka, one-time Olympic champion and eight-time European champion. At the 2008 Summer Olympics she defeated Japanese double gold medalist Ryoko Tani, who until then had been undefeated in major international competitions for 12 years.
Career
2008 Summer Olympics
Dumitru defeated the legendary five-time Olympian Ryoko Tani by "keikoku" in a shocking –48 kg semifinal upset at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium. She controlled the five-minute showdown, maintaining her position with strong defense, refusing to budge or give her experienced foe a chance to mount a strong attack. It worked, as Tani lost points for passivity. Then she flipped Cuba's Yanet Bermoy becoming the first Romanian judoka to win a gold medal in the Summer Olympic Games.
2012 Summer Olympics
She took part in the Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics but lost in the final against Sarah Menezes. In the semifinals, Dumitru beat world number one Tomoko Fukumi.
Awards
Alina Dumitru was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu, with Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.
She was given the award of Cetățean de onoare ("Honorary Citizen") of her hometown Ploiești in 2008.
References
- "Upsets of Olympic Proportions". Wall Street Journal. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- "Tani falls short in quest for gold". Japan Times. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
- "Olympics: Hiraoka gets silver, Fukumi left out of medals". Kyodo News. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- "Decorarea delegaţiei olimpice de la Beijing" (in Romanian). presidency.ro. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- "Alina Dumitru a devenit cetăţean de onoare al oraşului Ploieşti" (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
External links
- Alina Dumitru at the International Judo Federation
- Alina Dumitru at JudoInside.com
- Alina Dumitru at AllJudo.net (in French)
- Alina Dumitru at Olympics.com
- Alina Dumitru at Olympedia
- Alina Dumitru at The-Sports.org
- Alina Dumitru on Facebook
| Olympic Champions in Judo – Women's Extra-lightweight | |
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| European Judo Championships — Women's Extra Lightweight | |
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| 1974–present: –48 kg | |
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- 1982 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Bucharest
- Romanian female judoka
- Judoka at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Judoka at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Judoka at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Olympic judoka for Romania
- Olympic gold medalists for Romania
- Olympic medalists in judo
- Olympic silver medalists for Romania
- Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- 20th-century Romanian sportswomen
- 21st-century Romanian sportswomen
- European judo biography stubs
- Romanian martial arts biography stubs
- Romanian Olympic medalist stubs