16YO Who Pulled-Up Fallen Powerhouse Has Message for Paris Olympics 2024

Jan 25, 2024 | 12:45 PM EST

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In the poised world of gymnastics, there are rare stars with iconic tales. And one such star is a young 16-year-old from Romania. Coached by her mother, a renowned Olympian in the 1980s, she has become a rising star in artistic gymnastics. In 2023, her performances were outstanding. At just 15 years old, this prodigy made her senior international debut at the World Cup in Doha, winning gold medals on the balance beam and floor exercise. She continued her success with a bronze medal at the European Championships in May.

However, the real test came at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, where she elevated her country to the Paris Olympics in 2024. And now that the Olympic year is upon the sports world, she has a special message ahead of the pinnacle event.

Teenage gymnastics star has a special message for fans

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According to the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, the rising gymnast, had a special message for fans. With big expectations for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sabrina gave a powerful message, saying, “I want to say this to all the kids in the world: believe in your dreams.”

She continued, “Believe, believe, believe, and even if you don’t believe, act like you do, and one day all the hard work will pay off and your dreams will come true.” This message comes after she made a lasting mark on the gymnastics world at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp.

How she helped team Romania secure a golden opportunity

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Romania hadn’t qualified for the Olympics since 2012, and so the pressure was on at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. In the 2019 World Championships, Romania finished 22nd in team qualifications. At the 2023 World Championships, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and the Romanian women’s gymnastics team competed on the second day of qualification in Antwerp. The competition concluded with the Balance Beam event. Sabrina was the last to compete and expressed the pressure, stating it was “everything or nothing” for her on the Beam.

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A small mistake could mean Romania missing the qualification. Despite missing her vault earlier, Sabrina held her nerve. She produced the highest Balance Beam score for her team, a massive 13.666, showcasing her skill. For the final result for Team Romania, they placed tenth, securing a ticket to the Paris Olympics. She shared, “It was a very difficult day, but I was so happy at the end to see that finally, after 12 years, my country had qualified for the Olympics.” As the 2024 Paris Olympics inch closer, after making an impressive mark for herself in 2023, fans can’t wait to see what this young powerhouse of talent does next.

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