Gymn Forum: Gabriela Potorac Biography

Gabriela Potorac (ROM)

1988 Olympic V Silver Medalist
1989 European B Champion

Medal Total

Olympic Games: 2 Silver, 1 Bronze
World Championships: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
European Championships: 1 Gold

Gabriela was born on February 6, 1973 in Bacau. She began gymnastics at age 6 and made rapid progress, moving to the Cetate Deva club at age 12. Her first major international competition was the 1988 Olympic Games, where she won 3 medals. She had more success in 1989, taking the European beam title and winning a bronze medal at the World Championships on the same event. Potorac retired in 1990 and moved to Japan to coach. Today, she lives in Matsuyama with her Japanese husband.

Competition Results

1986
Catania Cup: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st UB, 1st B, 1st FX Goodwill Games: 4th AA, 4th V, 5th UB, 7th FX
Jr. European Championships: 6th AA, 3rd UB, 4th V, 4th FX
Jr. FRA-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA Jr. Friendship Tournament (Druzhba): 2nd Team, 3rd UB, 5th V
Leningrad International: 2nd AA, 2nd B, 3rd V
Moscow News: 2nd FX, 3rd V ROM Championships: 4th AA
1987
Cottbus International: 1st AA
Jr. Balkan Championships: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st B Jr. Friendship Tournament (Druzhba): 1st Team, 5th AA, 1st B
Kosice International: 2nd AA, 1st UB, 2nd FX, 4th B, 5th V ROM Championships: 3rd AA ROM-ITA Dual Meet: 1st Team, 4th AA
1988
American Cup: 5th AA
Balkan Championships: 1st Team, 1st AA
Blume Memorial: 2nd AA, 1st V, 1st UB, 1st FX, 3rd B
Cottbus International: 2nd AA, 1st UB
Gander Memorial: 1st AA
International Mixed Pairs: 3rd Team
Jr. European Championships: 2nd AA, 1st B, 2nd UB, 3rd FX, 4th V
Olympic Games: 2nd Team, 4th AA, 2nd V, 3rd B
SUI-ROM-CSSR Tri-Meet: 3rd AA
Swiss Cup: 1st AA
1989
European Championships: 4th AA, 1st B, 4th UB
ROM-CSSR Dual Meet: 1st Team, 3rd AA
World Championships: 2nd Team, 16th AA, 3rd B, 5th UB, 6th V

1990
Dutch Open: 18th AA