Sofianu Ilescu Maria

About

Marica Sofianu-Ilescu is a remarkable athlete from the Republic of Moldova, active within the National Federation of Contemporary Taekwon-Do ITF, where she contributes through successful participation in international competitions. She won gold medals in the Tul event at the European Championship in Koper, Slovenia, in 2024, ranking first, alongside other notable achievements such as second place in Sparring. Furthermore, in 2018, at the Euro-Asian Championship in Cyprus, she won multiple medals, including second place in WTF Sparring, Tul, and Sparring, demonstrating exceptional talent in complex techniques such as kicks and breaking. As an integral part of the Moldovan national team, Marica proudly represented her country at major events, collaborating closely with the Federation of Contemporary Taekwon-Do ITF, led by president Vasile Filat, and with coaches such as Radu Filat and Alexei Tentiuc. Her team participated in European championships in Italy (Jesolo, 2023) and Rimini (2019), bringing medals for Moldova and achieving honorable rankings in competitions with thousands of participants from dozens of countries. Her performances, including the gold in Tul Pair alongside partner Ion Ilescu in Cyprus, highlight the importance of rigorous training and team spirit in the martial art of Taekwon-Do ITF. In her personal life, Marica Sofianu-Ilescu is part of a family dedicated to sports, alongside her husband Ion Ilescu, a recognized European champion, and other members such as Emanuel and Dumitru Ilescu, with whom she competed in pair and team events. The family's involvement in Taekwon-Do, including participation in republican championships and refereeing seminars organized by the federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, reflects a model of values such as discipline, resilience, and faith, aspects highlighted in the athletes' statements about spiritual support from the "Buna Vestire" church community.