Bestial images » Champion Mihaela Cambei entered the “Bear Game”, one of the most beautiful traditions at the end of the year
Article by Andra Mocanu – Published Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 8:07 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 8:10 p.m.
On the last day of 2025, Mihaela Cambei (23 years old), European weightlifting champion, did not forget her origins and returned to Dofteana commune, Bacău county, the place where she was born.
She attended the “Winter Traditions and Customs Festival”, where she took part in traditions and dressed up as a bear.
PHOTO. Mihaela Cambei, an unprecedented appearance on the last day of the year
Mihaela Cambei, one of the most appreciated sportswomen of the moment in Romania, spent the last day of the year in Dofteana commune, her hometown. The athlete took part in the “Festival of Winter Traditions and Customs”, where he did not forget the traditions and dressed up as a bear.
The central tradition of Dofteana commune, Bacău county, is the Bear Game (or “Bear Swarm”), an ancient winter custom, part of New Year's traditions, involving a masked group, bears, bears, irozi, drummers, elaborately costumed, with drums, playing rhythmically to ward off evil spirits, an event that continues even today at winter events and festivals.
She was the center of attention during the festival, with the athlete appearing in several images posted on social networks. The event brought together the local community and highlighted the beauty of authentic Romanian customs. Her presence was received with great enthusiasm by the locals, who saw in her not only a champion, but also a symbol of the local community.
Mihaela Cambei, new appearance on the last day of the year / photo: Facebook Commune Dofteana
The year 2025 was a very good one for the 23-year-old athlete, impressing in the most important international competitions. He has seven gold medals and two silver medals at the World Championship, the European Championship and the European Under-23 Championship.
In the framework of the GSP Survey, the oldest, most complex and most respected survey in Romanian sport, he came second in the “Sportsman of the Year” category.
