Republic of Moldova

Moldova was formerly the Soviet Republic of Moldavia, which achieved independence after the Soviet break-up of 1991. Its National Olympic Committee was formed on 29 January 1991 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1993. Though the smallest of the former Soviet Republics, a few Moldavan athletes competed from 1952 to 1988 for the Soviet Union, and Moldavan athletes were present at Barcelona in 1992 as members of the Unified Team. During this time Moldovans have won 15 medals, including six gold. Moldova first competed at the Olympics as an independent nation in 1994 at Lillehammer, represented by one male and one female biathlete. They first competed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, and have attended all editions since. Moldovan athletes have won seven medals, two silvers and five bronze. The nation’s most successful Olympians are canoeists Nicolae Juravschi and Victor Reneischi, who together won two gold medals competing for the USSR, and one silver as Moldovans.