Former European Champion Robert Glinta Retires, Says “The Resources Are Exhausted”

Celebrating Gold Medal GLINTA Robert-Andrei ROU 100m Backstroke Men Swimming Budapest - Hungary 20/5/2021 Duna Arena XXXV LEN European Aquatic Championships Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Robert Glinta: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Former European 100m backstroke champion Robert Glinta has announced his retirement at 25 saying “the resources are exhausted” while pledging to look after his physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Glinta was the most prominent Romanian swimmer for some time until the emergence of David Popovici after first making his mark on the international scene when he won the 100 back at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Singapore.

He then claimed his first senior medal with 100 back bronze at the 2017 European Short-Course Championships, a feat he repeated two years later.

Sandwiched between was Glinta’s first international long-course medal when he won 50 back silver at the Europeans in Glasgow.

He twice reached the podium at the Europeans in Budapest in May 2021 with gold in the 100, lowering the national record in each round before stopping the clock for another new mark of 52.88 in the final.

He added silver in the 50 back.

The same year Glinta finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics, replicating his result from Rio 2016.

He continued his form into the European short-course in November with silver in the 100 back and bronze in the 50 and the following month claimed his first global senior medal with bronze at short-course worlds in Abu Dhabi.

He posted to social media, saying:

“The time has come for me to take a step back from competitive swimming.

“Through highs and lows this sport has taught me so much and truly made me grow into the more evolved human being I am today.

“Whether it is pain or glory, failure or success, suffering or bliss, the amount of responsibility, discipline, dedication, ambition through hard work to achieve a goal and overcome adversity and obstacles, grew deep roots within myself that will forever stay with me.”

Glinta paid tribute to those who played a part in his career before adding:

“The resources are exhausted and it is time to address and look after my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, for I am just another human being after all.”

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