Romanian cyclist and sports minister Eduard Novak on Friday won the silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympic in the men’s C4 4000 m race.
Despite a better start, Mr Novak was defeated by Slovakia’s Jozef Metelka who took the gold medal.
It is Romania’s first medal at the Paralympics, and the fourth in his career.
“Thanks to everyone. It’s fantastic for me. I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said after the medal award ceremony.
The 45 year-old become the first minister to compete in any Olympics and win a medal.
He won the gold t the 2012 London Games (C4 individual pursuit), silver in 2008 in Beijing and another silver in London 2012
After his win, Olympic silver medalist in fencing, Ana-Maria Popescu wrote “Congratulations!” on Facebook.
Mr Novak was initially a speed skater He lost his right foot in a car accident in Italy 1996 on the way to a competition.
He switched to cycling and became a professional cyclist. He was appointed minister in December 2020. He is a member of the party representing ethnic Hungarians.
Prior to the Paralympics he trained in Bulgaria as there was no velodrome in Romania.
Romanian has athletes competing in table tennis, judo, athletics, cycling, and archery.
