Denis Vieru welcomed home following World Judo Championship
Denis Vieru has returned home from Baku following his remarkable performance at the World Judo Championships. The 34-year-old athlete won the bronze medal and was welcomed at Chișinău’s "Eugen Doga" International Airport by family, relatives, and representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research. Among those present was his first coach, Victor Cozac.
"It is a joy for me, too. My work hasn't been in vain. He is a strong athlete. He was the best judoka in my group. He was the first to arrive at training and the last to leave," said Victor Cozac.
The three-time World Championship bronze medalist also received a surprise from his parents, who brought him his favorite cake.
"It’s a small cake. My parents know I love coffee, so they brought it right here. I’ll pair the coffee with the sweets," Denis Vieru said.
At the World Championships in Azerbaijan, Denis Vieru competed in the under-66 kg weight category. He defeated Frenchman Daikii Bouba, Brazilian Ronald Lima, and Tajikistan's Nurali Emomali. In the semifinals, the Moldovan judoka lost to Spaniard David Garcia Torn, but he went on to defeat Russian Murad Chopanov in the bronze medal match.
"So far, I’ve only won bronze medals, but I aim to perform even better. I will keep working hard to bring joy to judo fans," the Moldovan judoka added.
"It was an excellent performance by Denis Vieru. He has made a strong comeback. He is the same Denis Vieru who stood on the podium at the Olympic Games. He found the inner strength to succeed once again," concluded Andrei Golban, President of the Moldovan Judo Federation. Denis Vieru also won bronze medals at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships. His record includes a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and five medals at the European Championships: two gold and three bronze.
