Rowing cox Ecaterina Oancia was part of the prolific Romanian team that won multiple medals at the World Championships and Olympics in the 1980s. Oancia began her sporting career with kayaking and canoeing after being told she was too young to be a rower. When she was old enough to row she faced a further setback by being told she was not strong enough and should become a coxswain instead. She eventually settled into the role at her local club, and within two years she was on the national team. Oancia won her first medal at the World Championships in 1981 with bronze in the coxed quad sculls. She stuck with the event for the next few years, which eventually led to her winning gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with compatriots Maricica Țăran, Anişoara Sorohan, Ioana Badea, and Sofia Corban.
Oancia continued to have success at the World Championships, first winning bronze in the eight in 1985, before winning gold in both the eight and coxed four in 1987. The latter performances made the Romanian team strong favourites to repeat the results at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the Games, however, they were narrowly beaten in the eight by the East German team to win silver, and came third in the coxed fours. A year later Oancia won her final medal at an international competition with gold in the eight at the World Championships. She retired from the sport soon afterwards and worked as a secretary at Dinamo football club before becoming a rowing referee.
Romania