Cristina Balaban (born 1947) is a retired Romanian swimmer who specialized in backstroke and freestyle events. She is best known for winning a bronze medal in the women's 100 m backstroke at the 1966 European Aquatics Championships in Utrecht, Netherlands, with a time of 1:09.7. This medal was the first European swimming medal ever won by a Romanian athlete.
During her competitive career, Balaban won 28 national titles and set 36 national records. She competed for the club CS Dinamo București.
After retiring from competition, she worked as a swimming coach under the name Balaban-Sopterian. Among the swimmers she trained were Carmen Bunaciu and Anca Pătrășcoiu, both of whom went on to achieve international success.
Note: The name "Cristina Balaban" may also refer to other individuals, including a ballet master associated with the Hungarian State Opera and a postdoctoral researcher in palaeoglaciology at Charles University in Prague. This article covers the retired Romanian swimmer.
