Denis Vieru

Vieru rose to prominence after winning a gold medal at the 2016 European U23 Championships, the first Moldovan to do so since Marcel Trudov in 2005.[https://olympic.md/denis-vieru-aur-la-europenele-de-judo-u-23/ Denis Vieru – Aur la europenele de Judo U 23] {{in lang|ro}}. Olympic Committee of Moldova. Retrieved 3 February 2020. Vieru won medals at a number of IJF Grand Prix and Grand Slam events in 2019, including Moldova's first Judo Grand Prix gold medal at the 2019 Antalya Grand Prix,[https://video.eurosport.com/judo/denis-vieru-makes-history-for-moldova_vid1182430/video.shtml VIDEO - Denis Vieru makes history for Moldova]. Eurosport. Published 5 April 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020. another gold at the 2019 Baku Grand Slam, and defeated the 2016 European champion Vazha Margvelashvili to win gold at the 2019 Paris Grand Slam.[https://en.publika.md/victory-for-moldova-judoka-denis-vieru-captured-gold-medal-in--66kg-baku-grand-slam_2657862.html Victory for Moldova: Judoka Denis Vieru captured gold medal in -66kg Baku Grand Slam]. Publika TV. Published 11 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020. He also defeated Ranto Katsura of Japan to win a gold medal at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, where he was the flag bearer for the Moldovan delegation in the opening ceremony,[http://trm.md/en/sport/denis-vieru-medaliat-cu-aur-la-universiada Denis Vieru awarded gold at the Universiade]. Published 8 July 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020. and later also won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships.{{cite web |url=http://judolive01.lb.judobase.org/www.judo-world.net/ijf/world/wc_sen2019/tta.php?tta_mode=&aktion=pdf_sheet&klasse=-66 |website=judolive01.lb.judobase.org |title=2019 World Judo Championships –66 kg results |accessdate=2019-08-26}}

Vieru's medal as well as his points from the 2019 summer's competitions were suspended for a while, while the Moldovan was investigated for use of doping.{{Cite web |last=Frandeboeuf |first=Antoine |date=2020-11-23 |title=Le Moldave Denis Vieru convaincu de dopage en 2019 |url=https://lespritdujudo.com/le-moldave-denis-vieru-convaincu-de-dopage-en-2019/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=L'Esprit du Judo |language=fr-FR}} However, Vieru and his advocates were able to prove that there was "neither will to doping, nor negligence" on the athlete's part, which meant that Vieru only received a three month suspension instead of the regular two years, and was able to keep his medal and his world ranking points. The documents about the events have been sealed from the public.{{Cite web |title=Denis Vieru takes bronze at Europeans while suspected for doping use in 2019 |url=https://www.judoinside.com/news/4179/Denis_Vieru_takes_bronze_at_Europeans_while_suspected_for_doping_use_in_2019 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=www.judoinside.com |language=en}}

At the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Vieru won the gold medal in his event.{{Cite news |last=Houston |first=Michael |date=26 November 2021 |title=Olympic medallist Monteiro among winners on day one of IJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116009/ijf-abu-dhabi-grand-slam |access-date=27 November 2021}} He won the gold medal in his event at the 2022 Almada Grand Prix held in Almada, Portugal.{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=28 January 2022 |title=Silva wins first title since doping ban at Portugal Grand Prix |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1118468/judo-grand-prix-portugal-2022-day-1 |access-date=30 January 2022}} Vieru became the 2023 European champion and as of May 2024 is also the world's top ranked judoka in his weight class (66 kg).{{Cite web |last=Cowen |first=Thea |title=THE FINAL PUSH |date=14 May 2024 |work=European Judo Union |url=https://www.eju.net/the-last-big-push/}}

• Order of Honour (Moldova) (2022)
• EJU Fairplay Award (2023){{Cite web |last=Eichler |first=Wolfgang |date=2023-12-08 |title=Tränen der Rührung |url=https://www.judoaustria.at/traenen-der-ruehrung/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Judo Austria |language=de-DE}}

{{reflist}}

• {{EJU|16235}}
• {{Sports links|properties=-P4191|maxlink=6}}
• [https://olympic.md/denis-vieru/ Denis Vieru] at Olympic.md {{in lang|ro}}
• {{The-Sports}}
• [https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/denis-vieru_1561138 Denis Vieru] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
• [https://olympic.md/denis-vieru-paris-2024/ Denis Vieru | Paris 2024] at Team Moldova {{in lang|ro}}
• {{Instagram}}

{{EC Judo M66}}

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Category:1996 births

Category:European Games competitors for Moldova

Category:Judoka at the 2019 European Games

Category:Living people

Category:Moldovan male judoka

Category:Sportspeople from Chișinău

Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Moldova

Category:Summer World University Games medalists in judo

Category:Medalists at the 2019 Summer Universiade

Category:Judoka at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic judoka for Moldova

Category:21st-century Moldovan sportsmen

Category:Judoka at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Moldova

Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic medalists in judo