Vlad-Ștefan Stancu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈvlad ʃteˈfan ˈstaŋku]; born 13 August 2005) is a Romanian competitive swimmer. He is the Romanian record holder in the long course 1500-metre freestyle and long course and short course 800-metre freestyle. At the 2022 World Junior Championships, he won the silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle and bronze medals in the 800-metre freestyle and the 1500-metre freestyle. At the 2022 European Junior Swimming Championships, he won gold medals in the 1500-metre freestyle and 4×100-metre freestyle relay and silver medals in the 400-metre freestyle and 800-metre freestyle.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Vlad-Ștefan Stancu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  Romania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 August 2005[3] Romania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | CSA Steaua[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Iulia Becheru[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Background
editStancu attended Emil Racoviță National College in Bucharest for high school.[2] He trains with and competes for the swim club with CSA Steaua București (CSA Steaua).[1]
Career
edit2021
editFor the 2021 European Junior Swimming Championships, in July at Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto in Rome, Italy, 15-year-old Stancu placed fifth in the 400-metre freestyle, sixth in the 800-metre freestyle, and ninth in the 1500-metre freestyle.[4] At the 2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships, held in November at the Palace of Water Sports in Kazan, Russia, the 800-metre freestyle was contested for men for the first time, and winning the first heat of the event in 7:48.10, at 16 years, 85 days of age, he briefly held the Championships record before it was broken in a later heat by Florian Wellbrock of Germany, he also set a new Romanian record and placed 12th in the event overall, placed 12th in the 1500-metre freestyle with a 14:55.74, 14th in the 400-metre freestyle with a 3:43.99, and 22nd in the 200-metre freestyle with a personal best time of 1:46.59.[3]
2022
editIn April 2022, at the Multinations Junior Swimming Meet held in Kranj, Slovenia, Stancu helped set a new Romanian record in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay at 16 years of age with a final time of 7:28.43, splitting a 1:53.23 for the second leg of the relay.[5]
2022 European Junior Championships
edit| 2022 European Junior Championships | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
4×100 m freestyle | 3:18.93 |
| |
1500 m freestyle | 15:05.47 (NR) |
 |
800 m freestyle | 7:54.02 (NR) |
| |
400 m freestyle | 3:50.61 |
At the 2022 European Junior Swimming Championships, held in Otopeni in early July, Stancu won his first medal on day one as part of the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, swimming the second leg of the relay in a time of 51.11 seconds in the final to contribute to the gold medal-winning time of 3:18.93.[6][7] Two days later, he won the gold medal in the 1500-metre freestyle with a Romanian record time of 15:05.47, breaking the former record established at the 2004 Summer Olympics by Dragoș Coman with a time of 15:06.33.[1][6] Another two days after that, he set a new Romanian record in the 800-metre freestyle and won the silver medal with a time of 7:54.02.[6][8] The morning of the sixth and final day, he ranked fourth in the preliminaries of the 400-metre freestyle, qualifying for the evening final with a time of 3:54.96.[9][10][11] In the final, he tied Krzysztof Chmielewski of Poland for the silver medal with a time of 3:50.61, finishing 2.47 seconds behind gold medalist in the event Lorenzo Galossi of Italy.[12][13][14][15] Following his performances, Stancu announced his intent to compete at the 2022 World Junior Swimming Championships.[16]
2022 World Junior Championships
edit| 2022 World Junior Championships | ||
|---|---|---|
| |
400 m freestyle | 3:48.38 |
 |
800 m freestyle | 7:56.14 |
| |
1500 m freestyle | 15:17.97 |
Day one of the 2022 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, held starting 30 August in Lima, Peru, Stancu ranked third in the preliminary heats of the 400-metre freestyle with a time of 3:51.43 and qualified for the final.[17][18][19][20] In the final later the same day, he won the first medal for Romania at the Championships, a silver medal with a personal best time of 3:48.38, which was just 0.11 seconds behind gold medalist Stephan Steverink of Brazil.[21][22][23][24] Two days later, he won his second medal of the Championships, a bronze medal in the 800-metre freestyle, finishing in a time of 7:56.14.[25][26][27] The sixth and final day, he won the bronze medal in the 1500-metre freestyle with a time of 15:17.97.[28][29]
2022 Romanian Short Course Championships
editIn November, at the 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships held in Otopeni, Stancu set a new Romanian record of 4:12.77 in the final of the 400-metre individual medley to win the gold medal.[30] The following day, he lowered his Romanian record in the 800-metre freestyle to a 7:44.97, achieving the time en route to a gold medal-win in the 1500-metre freestyle with a personal best time of 14:41.14 that was over 51 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.[31][32] On the third day, he finished 0.76 seconds behind the first-place finisher in the 400-metre freestyle to win a silver medal with a personal best time of 3:43.76.[33]
2023
editAt 17 years of age at the 2023 Romanian Championships in April in Otopeni, Stancu won the senior and youth national titles in the 800-metre freestyle with a time of 7:58.38 on day one.[34][35] The third day, 6 April, he won the senior and youth national titles in the 200-metre butterfly with a 2:01.03 before winning the youth national title and senior silver medal in the 400-metre freestyle with a time of 3:52.45.[35][36] Day five of five, he won the senior and youth national titles in the 1500-metre freestyle in a time of 15:22.45 and won a youth national title in the 4×100-metre medley relay, helping achieve a time of 3:54.35 by swimming the butterfly leg of the relay.[35] In June, he won five gold medals in individual events at the 2023 Romanian Cup, one each in the 400-metre freestyle, 800-metre freestyle, 1500-metre freestyle, 200-metre butterfly, and the 400-metre individual medley, where he set a new Romanian record with his time of 4:18.70 that broke the former mark of 4:19.72 by Cezar Bădiță from 2003.[37]
International championships (50 m)
edit| Meet | 400 freestyle | 800 freestyle | 1500 freestyle | 4×100 freestyle relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EJC 2021 (age: 15) |
5th (3:53.09) |
6th (8:05.46) |
7th (15:29.00) |
|
| EJC 2022 (age: 16) |
 (3:50.61) |
(7:54.02 NR) |
 (15:05.47 NR) |
(split 51.11, 2nd leg) |
| WJC 2022 (age: 17) |
(3:48.38) |
 (7:56.14) |
(15:17.97) |
International championships (25 m)
edit| Meet | 200 freestyle | 400 freestyle | 800 freestyle | 1500 freestyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EC 2021 (age: 16) |
22nd (1:46.59) |
14th (3:43.99) |
12th (7:48.10 CR, NR) |
12th (14:55.74) |
Personal best times
editLong course metres (50 m pool)
edit| Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 m freestyle | 3:48.38 | 2022 World Junior Championships | Lima, Peru | 30 August 2022 | [21] | |
| 800 m freestyle | 7:54.02 | 2022 European Junior Championships | Otopeni | 9 July 2022 | NR | [6] |
| 1500 m freestyle | 15:05.47 | 2022 European Junior Championships | Otopeni | 7 July 2022 | NR | [6] |
| 400 m individual medley | 4:18.70 | 2023 Romanian Cup | Otopeni | 4 June 2023 | NR | [37] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Short course metres (25 m pool)
edit| Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 m freestyle | 1:46.59 | h | 2021 European Short Course Championships | Kazan, Russia | 5 November 2021 | [3] | |
| 400 m freestyle | 3:43.76 | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 13 November 2022 | [33] | ||
| 800 m freestyle | 7:44.97 | † | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 12 November 2022 | NR | [31] |
| 1500 m freestyle | 14:41.14 | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 12 November 2022 | [32] | ||
| 400 m individual medley | 4:12.77 | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 11 November 2022 | NR | [30] |
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
National records
editLong course metres (50 m pool)
edit| No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Age | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4×200 m freestyle | 7:28.43 | 2022 Multinations Junior Swimming Meet | Kranj, Slovenia | 9 April 2022 | 16 years, 239 days | Current | [5] |
| 2 | 1500 m freestyle | 15:05.47 | 2022 European Junior Swimming Championships | Otopeni | 7 July 2022 | 16 years, 328 days | Current | [1][6] |
| 3 | 800 m freestyle | 7:54.02 | 2022 European Junior Swimming Championships | Otopeni | 9 July 2022 | 16 years, 330 days | Current | [6][8] |
| 4 | 400 m individual medley | 4:18.70 | 2023 Romanian Cup | Otopeni | 4 June 2023 | 17 years, 295 days | Current | [37] |
Short course metres (25 m pool)
edit| No. | Event | Time | Meet | Location | Date | Age | Status | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 800 m freestyle | 7:48.10 | h | 2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships | Kazan, Russia | 6 November 2021 | 16 years, 85 days | Former | [3] |
| 2 | 400 m individual medley | 4:12.77 | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 11 November 2022 | 17 years, 90 days | Current | [30] | |
| 3 | 800 m freestyle (2) | 7:44.97 | † | 2022 Romanian Short Course Championships | Otopeni | 12 November 2022 | 17 years, 91 days | Current | [31] |
Legend: h – prelims heat; † – en route to final mark
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dumitru, Bianca (13 July 2022). "Povestea Lui Vlad Stancu, Surpriza Europenelor De Înot Pentru Juniori! Ce Relație Are Cu David Popovici" (in Romanian). Eurosport. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b Moldoveanu, Elena (13 July 2022). "Se poate și școală, și înot? Răspunsul campionului european Vlad Stancu" (in Romanian). Euronews. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d LEN (7 November 2021). "2021 European Short Course Swimming Championships Kazan (RUS): Complete Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ LEN (12 July 2021). "LEN European Junior Swimming Championships Rome - Italy: Complete Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Results Multinations Junior Swimming meet 2022: Event 19, 4x200m Freestyle Men - Final". livetiming.se. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g LEN (10 July 2022). "Romania 2022 LEN European Junior Swimming Championships: Complete Results Book". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu, campion european la juniori, și-a expus programul spartan de pregătire" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b Constantin, George (9 July 2022). "Încă o medalie pentru România la Campionatul European de natatie pentru juniori! Vlad Stancu, argint la proba de 800 de metri liber" (in Romanian). ProSport. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Mihala, Cristian (10 July 2022). "Vlad Stancu, O Nouă Cursă Bună! Luptă Pentru Medalii Și La 400 M Liber, După Un Timp Excelent" (in Romanian). Eurosport. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Paleu, Andrei (10 July 2022). "Europenele de natație pentru juniori: Vlad Stancu, în finala probei de 400 m liber" (in Romanian). Europa FM. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu s-a calificat în finală la 400 m liber, la Europenele de natație de la Otopeni" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Ion, Nicolae (10 July 2022). "Vlad Stancu a adus României a noua medalie la CE de natație pentru juniori: argint la 400 m liber" (in Romanian). Adevărul. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu wins a silver medal in 400m freestyle at Otopeni European Junior Swimming Championships". Agerpres. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu câștigă a patra medalie la Campionatele europee de natație pentru juniori, după a cursă fantastică la 400 m liber" (in Romanian). Digi24. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Ferea, atacă Vlad Stancu! Înotătorul a luat argint la 400 m liber după o cursă cu un finiș fantastic" (in Romanian). sport.ro. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Obiectivele suprizei Vlad Stancu, după Europeanul de tineret: „Am rămas cu o dorință de câștig și cu o dorință de muncă”" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ FINA (30 August 2022). "8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Lima (PER): Men's 400m Freestyle Heats Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu e în finala probei de 400 m liber, la Campionatele Mondiale de Natație pentru juniori" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu s-a calificat cu al treilea timp în finala de 400 metre liber, la Campionatul Mondial de înot pentru juniori de la Lima" (in Romanian). G4Media.ro. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Start la Mondialele de juniori din Peru » Prima cursă pentru Popovici: ștafeta masculină de 4x100m liber e în finală, după o evoluție de excepție" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ a b FINA (30 August 2022). "8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Lima (PER): Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Chaves, Lincoln (30 August 2022). "Revelação brasileira conquista ouro no Mundial Júnior de natação" (in Portuguese). Agência Brasil. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Contescu, Daniel (31 August 2022). "Vlad Stancu, medalie de argint la Mondialele de înot de la Lima" (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Nițulescu, Gabriel (31 August 2022). "Prima medalie pentru România la Mondialul de înot, de juniori din Peru - argint la 400 m liber" (in Romanian). Adevărul. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ FINA (1 September 2022). "8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Lima (PER): Men's 800m Freestyle Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ Dumitru, Bianca (1 September 2022). "Vlad Stancu a cucerit medalia de bronz în proba de 800 m liber, la Mondialele pentru juniori de le Lima" (in Romanian). Euronews. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu a luat bronz la 800 m liber, în cadrul CM juniori din Peru" (in Romanian). sport.ro. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ FINA (4 September 2022). "8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships Lima (PER): Men's 1500m Freestyle Results Summary". Omega Timing. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Vlad Stancu, medalie de bronz la 1.500 m liber la Campionatul Mondial de natație pentru juniori de la Lima" (in Romanian). Digi24. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ a b c "Result details: STANCU VLAD, Stefan: Campionatul National De Juniori, Tineret, Seniori: 400m Medley". swimrankings.net. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Result details: STANCU VLAD, Stefan: Campionatul National De Juniori, Tineret, Seniori: 800m Freestyle". swimrankings.net. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Campionatul National De Juniori, Tineret, Seniori Short Course (25m): Men, 1500m Freestyle, Timed Final, 17 years and older". swimrankings.net. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Campionatul National De Juniori, Tineret, Seniori Short Course (25m): Men, 400m Freestyle, Timed Final, 17 years and older". swimrankings.net. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Jugravu, Robert (5 April 2023). "Vlad Stancu și-a distrus adversarii și a câștigat aurul în proba de 800 de metri, la Campionatele Naționale de Natație de la Otopeni! Prima reacție a românului: „Am niște antrenamente în plus”" (in Romanian). ProSport. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Prestație excelentă a sportivilor Stelei la Campionatul Național de înot: 89 de medalii, dintre care 42 de aur" (in Romanian). CSA Steaua București. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Cătălin, Viorel (8 April 2023). "Noi medalii pentru înotătorii constănțeni, la Naționale" (in Romanian). observatorconstanta.ro. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Olteanu, Maria (4 June 2023). "Vlad Stancu a încheiat cu 5 medalii de aur Cupa României, desfășurată la Otopeni" (in Romanian). Eurosport. Retrieved 11 June 2023.