Sport
A small country with a long sporting tradition. From its first Olympic gold to the medals won at Paris 2024, Moldovan athletes carry the country’s name onto the podiums of the world.
The traditional disciplines
The sports in which Moldova has had its greatest success.
Wrestling
One of Moldova’s most decorated disciplines.
Canoe and kayak
A strong tradition, with Olympic medals over the years.
Weightlifting
The discipline of Moldova’s first individual Olympic gold.
Judo
Twice a medal-winner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Moldova’s champions
Athletes who made history
The Olympians who wrote the history of Moldovan sport.
Tudor Casapu
A weightlifter, the first and only athlete from the Republic of Moldova with Olympic gold in an individual event. He became Olympic champion at Barcelona 1992, in the 75 kg category, having also won the world title in 1990.
See the profileNicolae Juravschi
One of the greatest athletes Moldova has produced. He won two Olympic titles at Seoul 1988 in the double canoe events, and at Atlanta 1996 he brought the independent Republic of Moldova its first Olympic medal — silver. He was named the best Moldovan athlete of the 20th century.
See the profileSerghei Mureico
Greco-Roman wrestler, awarded the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, contributing to the first Olympic successes of independent Moldova.
See the profileAnastasia Nichita
One of the most accomplished sportswomen of contemporary Moldova. She won the silver medal and the title of Olympic runner-up at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, in wrestling.
See the profileSerghei Tarnovschi
Elite canoeist, awarded the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, continuing Moldova's strong tradition in the kayak-canoe events.
See the profileDenis Vieru
A top judoka, bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — one of the four medals won by Moldova at that edition.
See the profileAdil Osmanov
Judoka awarded the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, contributing to Moldova's record tally at that edition of the Games.
See the profileNote: results and records are updated after every competition. For official results, consult the National Olympic Committee and the sports federations of Moldova.
A small country with heavy medals
Almost all of Moldova’s Olympic success comes from individual sports of strength and endurance — wrestling, weightlifting, canoe and kayak, judo. It is the legacy of the Soviet-era sports schools, which selected and trained children early and systematically. Tudor Casapu and Nicolae Juravschi came up through that system and won Olympic gold while Moldova was not yet competing under its own flag.
After independence, the federations kept producing top wrestlers and canoeists, even on small budgets. At Paris 2024 Moldovan athletes reached the podium four times — the country’s best Olympic tally, delivered by a new generation in wrestling and judo.
Football remains the sport with the most supporters, and the national team plays in the European and World Cup qualifiers. Moldova’s biggest results, though, have always come from the mat, the boat and the weightlifting bar.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Moldovan sport
Who is Moldova’s first Olympic champion?
Tudor Casapu, a weightlifter, Olympic champion at Barcelona 1992 — the only Moldovan with Olympic gold in an individual event.
What are Moldova’s traditional disciplines?
Wrestling, canoe and kayak, weightlifting and judo are the sports in which Moldova has had its greatest success.
What medals did Moldova win at Paris 2024?
Moldovan athletes won medals in wrestling (Anastasia Nichita — silver), canoe (Serghei Tarnovschi — bronze) and judo (Denis Vieru and Adil Osmanov — bronze).
Who is Nicolae Juravschi?
A celebrated canoeist, double Olympic champion at Seoul 1988 and the man who won independent Moldova’s first Olympic medal (silver, Atlanta 1996).
How does Moldova do at football?
Football is popular and the national team plays in UEFA competitions, although the country’s greatest success has come from individual sports.
Discover the people of Moldova
Athletes, writers, musicians and rulers — all in one place.
