In 2011, Brânză took the bronze medal in the individual event of the 2011 European Fencing Championships in Sheffield and the gold medal in the team event after defeating Russia 45-31. The victory ceremony was marred by an incident when "Trei culori", the former, communist-era national anthem of Romania, was played instead of the current "Deșteaptă-te, române!" Brânză decided to walk off in protest and convinced her teammates of following her.