06. September 2008  
Bucharest, Romania  
Artistic Gymnastics

Dragulescu retires due to health reasons

'Dragu' says 'Good-Bye...!'

Six-time Romanian world champion (2001 - 2006), the  gymnast Marian DRAGULESCU, is retiring because of health reasons and plans to become a trainer.

One of the world's top vaulters, the 28-year-old Marian Dragulescu said Thursday, that he would retire after medical tests revealed he had chronic back problems.
To the Romanian press he said, that he would likely train young gymnasts for the Dinamo Bucharest club.

Dragulescu was bitterly upset when he failed to clinch a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, saying " ....my soul broke" after he fell on the landing of his second vault attempt at the Olympic Final event in Beijing.
That came after a first vault attempt gave him the highest score of all finalists and set his sights on the gold.

Dragulescu, the most successful Romanian gymnast ever ...

While Dragulescu won four golds at the artistic gymnastics world championships, as well as a silver and two bronzes at the Athens Games in 2004, an Olympic gold eluded him during his career.

Although he competed in various events, Dragulescu was best known for the vault and even had one exercise-a handspring double front with half turn-named after him. His "Dragulescu is a part of world gymnastics history, now!