TAROM Names Second 737 MAX After Romanian Olympic Champion Ivan Patzaichin
Romania's national flag carrier TAROM has named its second Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after Ivan Patzaichin, a Romanian Olympic canoeing champion. The agreement to use his name was signed on August 19 in the presence of his wife and daughter.
The first new Boeing 737 MAX entering TAROM’s fleet this year was named after legendary football coach Mircea Lucescu.
Born into a fishing family in Mila 23, a village in the Danube Delta, Patzaichin went on to become one of Romania's leading sporting figures. His daughter, Ivona Patzaichin, noted that her father was fascinated by airplanes as a child and wanted to become a pilot.
TAROM general manager Cristian Anghel recalled Patzaichin's performance at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where his paddle broke during a qualifying race. However, he continued paddling and won Olympic gold, demonstrating 'success built through work, discipline, and determination.'