Former Romanian Olympic Champion Dimitrie Popescu passes

Former World and Olympic Champion of Romania, Dimitrie Popescu, passed away on Saturday, 11^th November, at the age of 62. The news was announced by the Romanian Rowing Federation.

The tragic event took place after Dimitrie Popescu was seen four days ago at the National Long Distance Championship in Snagov, Romania.

Popescu was part of the magnificent men’s coxed four that won a gold medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Popescu won two other Olympic medal – a bronze medal the same year in the coxed pair, and a silver medal four years before at the Seoul 1988 Games – in the coxed four.

Popescu was also a World Rowing Champion in the coxed four, at the 1989 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia. He won three more World Championship medals, in 1985, 1987 and 1996.

After retiring, Dimitrie Popescu became a coach at CSA Steaua Bucharest, and in 1997 he took over coaching duties with the Romanian Olympic rowing team. Dimitrie Popescu received the titles of Master of Sports and Emeritus Master of Sports.

Dimitrie Popescu was married to another Romanian Olympic rowing champion, Mărioara Popescu (60 years old). She is a double gold medallist, at the Los Angeles 1984 and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

World Rowing wishes to convey it’s deepest sympathy to Dimitrie’s wife and family.