Former athlete Ana Maria Branza to carry Olympic Flame in France for Olympic Games

Oana Vasiliu 26/04/2024 | 12:45

Former fencer Ana-Maria Branza, Olympic champion in the team event and double silver medalist in individual events, will carry the Olympic flame alongside other athletes from European Union countries in a ceremony to be held in Marseille on May 9th.

According to tradition, the Olympic flame was lit with the help of sunlight during a ceremony at the sanctuary in Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. This ceremony took place on April 16th. Then the flame arrived in Athens to board the Belem, a three-masted vessel, and will cross the Mediterranean Sea bound for Marseille, where it will arrive on May 8th. On May 9th, celebrated as the Europe Day, the Olympic flame will pass Marseille, as part of a major popular celebration, carried by athletes from the 27 countries of the European Union who will participate in a special Olympic torch relay.

The announcement was made by the French ambassador to Bucharest, Nicolas Warnery. “Romania will be represented by Ana-Maria Branza, Olympic fencing champion, multiple world champion, a great sportswoman of Romania,” said Nicolas Warnery at an event held at the French Embassy.

Ana-Maria Branza, now an advisor to the President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Mihai Covaliu, said she is just as excited as she was during her competitive career.

“Until now, we talked about the emotions a athlete has before the Olympic Games, now I have the opportunity to be qualified automatically. The emotions are just as high, maybe even higher. To be included in this project, at the moment when the Games return to Europe, is something exceptional. I am grateful to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee for giving me this opportunity to be in Marseille, alongside athletes from all European countries, to carry the Olympic flame. What I have learned in the last two years is that emotions are much more intense to experience from the sidelines than when you are directly involved,” said the former athlete.

The Paris Olympic Games will begin on July 26th and end on August 11th.

Romania delegation to the Olympic Games in Paris

Up until now, The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee announced that the number of Romanian athletes qualified for the Paris Olympic Games has reached 79, after the qualification of the athlete Bianca Ghelber, who managed to meet the Olympic qualification standard in the hammer throw event on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya.

List of athletes participating in the Paris Olympic Games:

Athletics (4): Delvine Relin Meringor (marathon), Andrea Miklos (400m), Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (long jump), Joan Chelimo Melly (marathon);
Swimming (2): David Popovici (100m freestyle, 200m freestyle), Vlad Stancu (800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle);
Boxing (1): Lăcrămioara Perijoc (category 54kg);
Canoeing (3): Cătălin Chirilă (C1 – 1000m), Ilie Sprîncean, Oleg Nuţă (C2 – 500m);
Rowing (44 quota places): lightweight women’s double sculls, women’s double sculls, women’s double sculls, women’s four, women’s quadruple sculls, women’s eight, men’s double sculls, men’s double sculls, men’s four, men’s quadruple sculls, men’s eight;
Artistic gymnastics (6): 5 quota places – women’s team; Andrei Muntean;
Rhythmic gymnastics (1): Annaliese Drăgan;
Water polo (13): 13 quota places – men’s team;
Table tennis (3): 3 quota places – women’s team;
Wrestling (1): Andreea Beatrice Ana (category 53kg);
Hammer throw (1): Bianca Ghelber.