Gabriela Szabo

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Gabriela Szabo
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 11 3 3
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney 5000 m
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney 1500 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1997 Athens 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Seville 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 2001 Edmonton 1500 m
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1998 Budapest 5000 m
Silver medal – second place 2002 Munich 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Helsinki 3000 m
World Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1995 Barcelona 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 1997 Paris 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Maebashi 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 1999 Maebashi 1500 m
Silver medal – second place 2001 Lisbon 3000 m
European Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Valencia 3000 m
Gold medal – first place 2000 Ghent 3000 m
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1995 Fukuoka 5000 m
Gold medal – first place 1995 Fukuoka 1500 m

Gabriela Szabo (Romanian pronunciation: [ɡabriˈela ˈsabo], Hungarian: Szabó Gabriella;[2] born 14 November 1975)[3] 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 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 held the European record in the 3000 m between 2002 and 2019.

Early life

Szabo was born to a Romanian mother and a Hungarian father.[4][5] As a child, Szabo used to speak Hungarian with her friends, but she can only understand a few words today, which she regrets.[1][2]

Post-sport career

Gabriela Szabo as Minister of Youth and Sport in the third Ponta cabinet

As of 19 August 2013 she held the honorific title of Romanian Tourism Ambassador,[6] 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. She held the position until 17 November 2015.

Competition record

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 4:11.73
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 German long-jumper 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.[7] Szabo walked into Amoah's path and they collided heavily.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Tóth Gödri, Iringó (6 May 2021). "Gabriela Szabo sajnálja, hogy nem tanult meg magyarul" [Gabriela Szabo regrets that she did not learn Hungarian]. kronikaonline.ro (in Hungarian). Krónika. Retrieved 9 August 2021. ahogy a sportrajongók ismerik, Gabi Szabo [as sports fans know her, Gabi Szabo]
  2. ^ a b Ághassi, Attila (23 November 2005). "'Bánt, hogy már nem tudok magyarul'" ['I'm sorry I can't speak Hungarian anymore']. index.hu (in Hungarian). Index. Retrieved 9 August 2021. Nem véletlen, hogy eszembe sem volt a nevem megváltoztatása [It's no coincidence that I didn't even think of changing my name.]
  3. ^ "Gabriela Szabo Biography and Olympic Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. .
  5. ^ Gabi Szabo: „La Chimie, toceam toate formulele. Dar şi astăzi ştiu tabelul lui Mendeleev!“. adevarul.ro (9 March 2013). Retrieved on 11 August 2014.
  6. ^ Romanian Tourism Ambassadors post by DrumLiber.ro, 21 August 2013, drumliber.ro, accessed on 21 August 2013
  7. ^ "Ethiopians sweep medals in 3 000m". news24.com. 4 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  8. YouTube

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Women's European Athlete of the Year

1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year

1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Gazzetta dello Sport
Sportswoman of the Year

1999
Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Women's 3,000 m Best Year Performance
1997–2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jiang Bo
Women's 5,000 m Best Year Performance
1998–1999
Succeeded by
Getenesh Wami
Preceded by Women's 3,000 m Best Year Performance
2002–2003
Succeeded by