Moldovan Olympians: Denis Vieru, the judoka who took the country's fame far beyond its borders

 Moldovan Olympians: Denis Vieru, the judoka who took the country's fame far beyond its borders.

Another athlete that the Republic of Moldova can be proud of and who will represent our country at the Olympic Games in Paris is judoka Denis Vieru.

The athlete was born on March 10, 1996, in Chisinau and is a Moldovan judoka who competes in the men's semi-light category. Denis Vieru first rose to prominence after winning a gold medal at the European U-23 Judo Championships in 2016, the first Moldovan to do so since Marcel Trudov in 2005. Vieru has won medals at a number of IJF events Grand Prix and Grand Slam in 2019, including Moldova's first Judo Grand Prix gold medal at the Antalya Grand Prix, another gold at the Baku Grand Slam, and defeating 2016 European champion Vazha Margvelashvili to win gold at the Paris Grand Slam . He also defeated Japan's Ranto Katsura to win the gold medal at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, where he was the flag bearer of the Moldovan delegation at the opening ceremony. At the same time, Denis Vieru won a bronze medal at the World Judo Championship in 2019. In 2021 at the Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, he won the gold medal. He also won the gold medal in 2022 at the Judo Grand Prix Almada, which took place in Portugal.

He discovered his passion for Judo from an early age. „I remember the first time I entered a judo gym. I was 6 years old! My attention was drawn to the athletes fighting in a beautiful and well-arranged white outfit with belts of different colors. At the time I didn't know what those belts meant, but I felt an attraction towards this sport. A year later, I returned to that gym and started practicing Judo myself”, the judoka previously told in an interview given to the media.

Denis Vieru admits that in the Republic of Moldova it is difficult to do performance sports, but it is not impossible. „It's hard, but it's possible. I am proud of the fact that I am part of the athletes who bring the country's fame and represent the Republic of Moldova at the highest level. Although, often, the conditions in which the training takes place leaves much to be desired, Moldovan athletes manage to achieve fantastic results. I consider myself lucky because I am supported by a large team of dear people and reliable partners”, said Denis. Obviously, his main supporters are his family and team members. 

An important role is played by the management and colleagues of the National Judo Federation. The Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held from July 26 to September 8, 2024, at various locations in Paris and the Île-de-France region.