BUCHAREST -- Former gymnast Carmencita Constantin became the new president of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation after winning an election on Monday.

The 62-year-old former gymnast was supported by 28 votes, while her opponent, Ioan Suciu, a retired Romanian artistic gymnast of 42 years old, gathered 16 votes.

"It is the greatest achievement of my soul to be elected the president, in a sport that I served unconditionally," she told local media, expressing her desire to "bring Romanian gymnastics back to the highest level in a fairly short time."

Constantin practiced rhythmic gymnastics and was a national and international coach and referee in aerobic gymnastics. She was also a member of the Executive Committee of the federation, as well as president of the Technical Commission of Aerobic Gymnastics.

Her mandate will be valid until next year, in 2021, when normal elections will be held for the next four years.

Her predecessor, Andreea Raducan, who had been in charge of the federation since August 2017, resigned at the end of last year after Romania's national gymnastics teams failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.