Gabriela Szabo

Gabriela Szabo (Romanian pronunciation: [ɡabriˈela ˈsabo], born 14 November 1975)[1] is a retired Romanian runner. She competed in the 1500 m and 5000 m events at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Szabo was born to a Romanian mother and a Hungarian father.[2][3]

This article is about Romanian field and track athlete. For the Hungarian sprint canoer, see Gabriella Szabó.

Gabriela Szabo
Gabriela Szabo in May 2014
Personal information
Born14 November 1975 (1975-11-14) (age 44)
Bistriţa, Romania
Height1.52 m (5 ft 0 in)
Weight42 kg (93 lb)
Sport
SportRunning
Medal record
Representing  Romania
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 1 1
World Championships 3 0 0
World Indoor Championships 3 1 1
European Championships 0 1 1
European Indoor Championships 2 0 0
Universiade 2 0 0
Total 12 2 3
Olympic Games
2000 Sydney 5000 m
1996 Atlanta 1500 m
2000 Sydney 1500 m
World Championships
1997 Athens 5000 m
1999 Seville 5000 m
2001 Edmonton 1500 m
European Championships
2002 Munich1500 m
1994 Helsinki3000 m
World Indoor Championships
1995 Barcelona3000 m
1997 Paris3000 m
1999 Maebashi3000 m
1999 Maebashi1500 m
2001 Lisbon3000 m
European Indoor Championships
1998 Valencia3000 m
2000 Ghent3000 m
Universiade
1995 Fukuoka 5000 m
1995 Fukuoka 1500 m

Szabo is a three-time world champion. Throughout her entire career she was coached by Zsolt Gyöngyössy, whom she eventually married. In May 2005 she retired from competitions due to exhaustion. She remains the European record holder in the 3000 m.

As of 19 August 2013 she held the honorific title of Romanian Tourism Ambassador,[4] together with 7 other cultural and sport personalities of Romania.

On 5 March 2014, she was appointed Minister of Youth and Sport in the Victor Ponta social-democratic government.

Competition record
Gabriela Szabo as Minister of Youth and Sport in the third Ponta cabinet
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Romania
1991 European Junior Championships Thessaloniki, Greece 1st 3000 m 9:19.28
1992 World Junior Championships Seoul, South Korea 2nd 3000 m 8:48.28
1993 European Junior Championships San Sebastián, Spain 1st 3000 m 8:50.97
1994 World Junior Championships Lisbon, Portugal 1st 3000 m 8:47.40
European Championships Helsinki, Finland 3rd 3000 m 8:40:08
1995 World Indoor Championships Barcelona, Spain 1st 3000 m 8:54.50
World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 4th 5000 m 14:56.57
Universiade Fukuoka, Japan 1st 1500 m 15:29.86
1st 5000 m 15:29.86
1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 2nd 1500 m 4:01.54
23rd (h) 5000 m 15:42.35
1997 World Indoor Championships Paris, France 1st 3000 m 8:45.75
World Championships Athens, Greece 1st 5000 m 14:57.68
Universiade Catania, Italy 1st 1500 m 4:10.31
1998 European Indoor Championships Valencia, Spain 1st 3000 m 8:49.96
European Championships Budapest, Hungary 2nd 5000 m 15:08.31
1999 World Indoor Championships Maebashi, Japan 1st 1500 m 4:03.23
1st 3000 m 8:36.42
World Championships Seville, Spain 1st 5000 m 14:41.82
2000 European Indoor Championships Ghent, Belgium 1st 3000 m 8:42.06
Olympic Games Sydney, Australia 3rd 1500 m 4:05.27
1st 5000 m 14:40.79
2001 World Indoor Championships Lisbon, Portugal 2nd 3000 m 8:39.65
World Championships Edmonton, Canada 1st 1500 m 4:00.57
8th 5000 m 15:19.55
2002 European Championships Munich, Germany 2nd 1500 m 3:58.81
2003 World Championships Paris, France 11th 5000 m 14:59.36

Personal bests

Outdoor (track)

1500 metres - 3:56.97 (1998)
One mile - 4:19.30 (1998)
3000 metres - 8:21.42 (2002)
5000 metres - 14:31.48 (1998)

Indoor

1500 metres - 4:03.23 (1999)
One mile - 4:23.19 (2001)
2000 metres - 5:30.53 (1998)
3000 metres - 8:32.88 (2001)
5000 metres - 14:47.35 (1999)

2001 Accident

Szabo is remembered for a collision with Ghanaian runner Kofi Amoah Prah during an indoor meeting at Stuttgart in 2001. Szabo was leaving the track after her competition had finished while Amoah was running for his attempt.[5] Amoah smashed into Szabo, and landed on top of her as Szabo's legs spread from the impact.[6]

References
  1. "Gabriela Szabo Biography and Olympic Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. Mallows, Lucy (2008). Transylvania. Guilford, Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press Inc. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-84162-230-9.
  3. Gabi Szabo: „La Chimie, toceam toate formulele. Dar şi astăzi ştiu tabelul lui Mendeleev!“. adevarul.ro (9 March 2013). Retrieved on 11 August 2014.
  4. Romanian Tourism Ambassadors post by DrumLiber.ro, 21 August 2013, drumliber.ro, accessed on 21 August 2013
  5. "Ethiopians sweep medals in 3 000m". news24.com. 4 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  6. "Athletics long jump collision" on YouTube
Awards
Preceded by
Christine Arron		 Women's European Athlete of the Year
1999		 Succeeded by
Trine Hattestad
Preceded by
Marion Jones		 Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year
1999		 Succeeded by
Marion Jones
Preceded by
Marion Jones		 Gazzetta dello Sport
Sportswoman of the Year
1999		 Succeeded by
Marion Jones
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Sonia O'Sullivan		 Women's 3,000 m Best Year Performance
1997–2000		 Succeeded by
Olga Yegorova
Preceded by
Jiang Bo		 Women's 5,000 m Best Year Performance
1998–1999		 Succeeded by
Getenesh Wami
Preceded by
Olga Yegorova		 Women's 3,000 m Best Year Performance
2002–2003		 Succeeded by
Isabella Ochichi


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