Romanian Showdown 2026 from the Perspective of Winner Zdeněk Kopeček

The Romanian Showdown 2026 was my first competition in Romania, and from the very beginning, it felt like a one-of-a-kind sporting event. Not only the large arena, cheering fans, massive and stable rack, high-quality live stream, challenging workouts, and generous athlete package gave the competition the atmosphere of a prestigious European event where there’s no room for compromise.

We stayed on the outskirts of Brașov, in a park just a short walk from the stadium. At first glance, it seemed like the ideal spot… except that there was a train station right next door. Anyone who hasn’t experienced a Romanian announcer declaring the arrival of a train on Track 5 at three in the morning doesn’t know what true mental resilience is. On the other hand, in the evening the park filled up with locals who gathered, played sports, and chatted—and you could see that the city really knows how to come alive.

The weather was perfect, which we especially appreciated during the first Friday workout, which took place near the city’s historic center, allowing us to take in the beautiful natural scenery and historic landmarks while we ran. The volunteers—including students from the local military academy—and the organizers were friendly and helpful, and it was clear they were running the race with genuine enthusiasm. The heats started right on time, the facilities for the runners ran smoothly and stress-free, and I also appreciated that there was a generous supply of drinks—pre-workout and post-workout drinks, water, and lemonade with electrolytes. It’s a detail that can make or break the day.
The workouts were perfectly designed: challenging and varied. I felt them quite intensely for several days afterward. The competition was strong, but at the same time friendly and supportive. It was exactly the kind of atmosphere where you compete at full throttle, but at the same time cheer on people you’ve never even met before. Simply put, it’s what comes to mind when you think of CrossFit.

Special thanks go to Coach František Heribán for the preparation, support, his offbeat sense of humor, and also for his traditional “list of mistakes” after every workout. I’d also like to thank CrossFit Madman, the gym where I train, and the people who sent me congratulations from afar and motivated me to give it my all. And thanks also go to the sports store workout.eu, which has long supported not only Czech athletes but also exactly the kinds of competitions that are a joy to compete in.

The Romanian Showdown was a successful sporting event that’s definitely worth returning to.

Zdeněk Kopeček
instagram.com/zdekop_coach