FULL NAME: Maria Olaru

BIRTHDATE/PLACE: June 4, 1982/Falticeni, Romania

HOMETOWN/RESIDENCE: Birlad, Romania/Deva, Romania

HEIGHT:

CLUB/COACH: Cetate Deva/Octavien Belu

FAMILY: Mother, 2 sisters, cat

BEGAN GYMNASTICS:

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2000 Olympics--1st team, 3rd AA (moved up to 2nd); 1999 World AA Champion, 1st team, 3rd vault; 1999 Romanian National Champion; 1999 ITC--1st team; 1998 Goodwill Games--2nd AA, 4th vault; 1998 Europeans--1st team; 2nd vault; 1998 ITC--2nd AA; 1998 American Cup--5th AA; 1997 ITC--1st team; 1997 Jr. International Champion; 1997 European Youth Olympic Days--5th AA; 1996 Jr. Europeans--5th AA, 7th vault.

ROUTINES: VAULT: Yurchenko double-full, Phelps
BARS: Hecht-over, kip, cast handstand 1 1/2, piked Jaeger, kip, cast handstand 1/2, giant-full, giant 1 1/2, Tkatchev, Pak salto, glide 1/2, kip, cast-squat on, sole circle, kip, cast handstand, giant, tucked full-out.
BEAM:
FLOOR:

INJURIES: Knee surgery in 1998

FAVORITE/LEAST FAVORITE

EVENT:

HOBBIES: Tennis, skating, swimming

GYMNAST:

FOOD:

COLOR:

OTHER FACTS:

Maria is the 2nd Romanian to win the world AA title.

Maria placed 3rd AA at the 2000 Olympics, but was later awarded the silver medal after the IOC stripped Andreea Raducan of the gold due to a positive drug test after taking a cold pill.