---
title: "Moldova crowns Sergiu Coada national strongman champion in Chisinau"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/84264/moldova-crowns-sergiu-coada-national-strongman-champion-in-chisinau
published: 2026-08-30T18:10:00Z
language: en
author: "Alexandru Rusu"
section: "EXPLAINER"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Moldova crowns Sergiu Coada national strongman champion in Chisinau

> Sergiu Coada won the title of Moldova's Strongest Man on Saturday, outperforming nine other professional athletes in extreme strength challenges held in the capital's Rose Valley park.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/8a6584cd-b31f-4629-9533-320550a87539.jpg)

Sergiu Coada won the title of Moldova's Strongest Man on Saturday, outperforming nine other professional athletes in extreme strength challenges held in the capital's Rose Valley park.

**Grueling trials of raw power**

The national competition brought together 21 participants across two divisions—10 professional competitors and 11 amateurs—competing in five demanding tests of endurance and physical power, public broadcaster Moldova 1 reported. In one timed event, professionals hoisted weights of 150, 170, and 190 kilograms up a flight of stairs in a rapid race against the clock.

**Pulling 3.2 tonnes of steel and crew**

The centerpiece challenge required competitors to pull a vehicle carrying all 11 amateur contenders seated in its trailer, creating a combined mass of 3.2 metric tons. Lead event organizer and active competitor Iulian Prijelevschi finished in second place, while Adrian Bors took third place on the podium.

**Discipline and camaraderie**

*“Hard work and discipline are paramount; an athlete must never surrender,”* said Prijelevschi, who launched the inaugural contest in 2023 and expanded it this year with an international edition. *“Participation continues to grow steadily.”*

*“It requires thorough preparation and a strict regimen—we work relentlessly and follow demanding rules,”* third-place finisher Adrian Bors said, describing the sport's substantial physical risks. *“You cannot accomplish this in a single day; it takes years of training.”*

*“I faced top-tier rivals, and it was a great honor to compete in the national championship,”* professional participant Razvan Nicolae said.

Fellow athlete Cristian Busuioc praised the supportive spirit among participants. *“The atmosphere here is extraordinary,”* Busuioc said. *“We are rivals on the field, but friends in daily life, and this close-knit family keeps me deeply motivated.”*

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**