Cristina Elena Grigoraș (born 11 February 1966) is a retired Romanian artistic gymnast. She is a two-time Olympic medalist with the team (gold in 1984 and silver in 1980). Individually, she won four medals (vault, all-around, uneven bars and floor) at the 1981 European Championships. She is best known for a skill on the balance beam named after her: forward salto tucked with ½ twist (180°) take off from both legs."FIG" 2009 Code of points – Women's Artistic Gymnastics, page 166
Gymnastics career Grigoraș trained at CSS Cetate Deva with Márta and Béla Károlyi until their defection to United States in 1981 and with coaches Adrian Goreac, Adrian Stan, Maria Cosma and Octavian Belu after 1981.“Gymn-Forum” Cristina GrigorasJurnalul National (Romanian) Interview with Octavian Bellu, Marius Tucă, 28 October 2008
1980 and the Olympic Games Her senior debut in an international event was at the 1980 Italian-Romanian meet where she placed first with the team and second all-around. Her participation at the 1980 World Cup in Toronto brought her a bronze medal on vault. She also placed fourth all around ahead of teammate Emilia Eberle, fifth on floor and eight on balance beam.“Gymn-Forum” 1980 World Cup Women’s All around"Gymn-Forum" 1980 World Cup Women’s Events Finals Together with Nadia Comăneci, Rodica Dunca, Emilia Eberle, Melita Ruhn and Dumitriţa Turner, Grigoraș was a member of the silver medal team at the 1980 Olympics.“Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics” Team Competition At these Olympic games she did not compete in any individual final event.“Gymn Forum” 1980 Olympic Games, Women’s All around“Gymn Forum” 1980 Olympic Games Women’s Events Finals
1981 At the 1981 European Championships in Madrid, Spain, Grigoraș medaled in all events except the balance beam. She won silver in the all around behind Maxi Gnauck,“Times” E. German Gymnast European Champion"Gymn-Forum" 1981 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships Women's All Around gold on vault, silver on uneven bars, bronze on floor and she placed eighth on beam."Gymn Forum" 1981 European Championships Women's Events Finals Her results in the all around and the events finals were the highest among her team members. In 1981 she also won the Champions All TrophyGymn Forum Results 1981 Champions All and was a team member at the 1981 World Championships in Moscow. At these World Championships she placed fourth with the team and fifth in the all around and uneven bars events. Once again her result in the all around was the highest among the Romanian team.“Gymn-Forum” 1981 World Championship Women’s All Around
1982–1984 and the Olympic Games In 1982 Grigoraș did not compete at all. She returned to gymnastics events in 1983, but she was only an alternate in the team at the 1983 World Championships.”Gymnastics Greats” The Alternates In 1984 she won several medals for all around at some minor international events. In 1984 Grigoraș went with the team to Los Angeles to compete at the 1984 Olympic Games."Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics" The other members of the team were Lavinia Agache, Laura Cutina, Simona Păucă, Mihaela Stănuleţ, and Ecaterina Szabo. She contributed to the team gold medal and she placed eighth in the preliminaries of the all around event.
Eponymous skill Grigoraș has one eponymous skill listed in the Code of Points. Apparatus Name Description DifficultyBalance beam Grigoraș Salto forward tucked with ½ turn (180°) take-off from both legs F (0.6)
Retirement Grigoraș' last event appears to be the 1985 Dutch Romanian meet.
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