murzicaBIO

Marius Urzica was born in Toplita on September 30, 1975. He started
gymnastics at age 6 at CSS Gheorghieni. His first coach was Iosif Ferencz.
He graduated from the Sport University in Bucharest with a degree in
coaching & would like to work as a coach once he retires from competition.
His best results always came on pommel horse, where he won the gold
medal at the 1994 Worlds, 1994 Europeans & 2000 Olympics. In the
1996 Olympics he took a silver on this event. 1997 was a disappointing
year for Marius, as he didn't finish in the medals at this Worlds. In 1998
he was chosen to compete at the American Cup but suffered a severe
injury during podium training days before the competition. He tore his
left biceps muscle, but despite Nadia Comaneci's offer to help pay for
surgery, he went back to Romania without having the surgery. He
eventually had arthroscopic surgery, but the muscle is still partially torn
& he just "competes through the pain". He came back from this injury
to win a silver medal on pommel horse at the 1999 Worlds & a gold
at the 2000 Europeans & Olympics. Although Marius is known as a
pommel horse specialist, he also competes parallel bars & high bar
occasionally. As for Marius' personal life, he's married & his wife's name
is Georgeta. Together they had a baby born in October 2000. Some
of Marius' hobbies include soccer, skating & listening to music. One of the
highlights of his long career came at the 2001 Glasgow Grand Prix, where
he scored his first perfect 10.0 on pommel horse. He was overjoyed with
this, saying it's the "ultimate goal of every gymnast".

last updated: December 18, 2001

***this biography was made with the help of Ioana Jadic***