Mihaela Hogas

Memorable sporting achievement	Competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, winning bronze in the mixed team sprint at the 2016 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. (life.ro, 07 Sep 2022; Athlete, 25 Nov 2021)
Other sports	She has competed in roller speed skating at national level in Romania. (infobrasov.net, 13 Aug 2023)

Club / Team

CSM Corona Brasov: Romania

Hobbies	Watching films, psychology, spending time with friends and family. (Athlete, 25 Nov 2021)
Hero / Idol	Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, Romanian handball player Cristina Neagu, Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, Romanian footballer Gheorghe Hagi. (Athlete, 25 Nov 2021)
Ambitions	To win a medal at the Olympic Winter Games. (newsbv.ro, 27 Oct 2022)

Name of coach	Bogdan Stanescu [club], ROU
When and where did you begin this sport?	She first tried speed skating at age nine in Brasov, Romania.

www.facebook.com/Mihaela-Hoga%C5%9F-215651746027389

Reason for choosing this sport

"I was with my friends and there I saw my coach [Bogdan Stanescu] with other kids. I was very curious. I didn't know what the sport was about, but I liked it so much that I couldn't stop. I was very attracted to the idea of individual sports, the fact that I can compete with other athletes in a timed competition. I realised that it is a complex and difficult sport because it is about technique, strength, ambition, emotional and mental strength and physical endurance. It is a special sport that combines adrenaline, speed, the desire to win, the pleasure of skating and the suspense given by winning competitions within thousands of a second. This sport was love at first sight. I think that even if I had tried another sport, maybe it would have been a love then, but the fact that it was really the first sport I tried and that worked for me."

Most influential person in career	Her family, and coach Bogdan Stanescu. (Athlete, 25 Nov 2021)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"I have learned to be patient. I am a perfectionist and I always want more from myself. In performance sports, everything must be built step by step. I learned that work surpasses them all. Talent, conditions, staff, a strong body, all can be in vain if there is no work. I learned to control my emotions and energy and put them on the ice." (redbull.com, 24 Feb 2020)
Other information	TRAINING ABROAD She hopes in the future a speed skating rink can be built in Romania so future generations can take up the sport. Due to the lack of a proper training facility, she is based in Inzell, Germany, for six months of the year. "I really want to change a little the perception of Romania regarding speed skating. I want to help children in future as well because I know that at the moment, as long as I am an athlete, not many things will change. I am aware that an ice rink will not be built, but I hope that things will change a little for future generations." (newsbv.ro, 27 Oct 2022; ife.ro, 07 Sep 2022; redbull.com, 24 Feb 2020) FURTHER EDUCATION She has studied for master's degrees in marketing policies and strategies and in sports performance and management at the Transilvania University of Brasov in Romania. (Athlete, 25 Nov 2021; Facebook profile, 18 Jan 2021; redbull.com, 24 Feb 2020)