Gabriela Szabo at the 2002 Golden Gala (© Getty Images)
Former women’s World and Olympic 5000 metres champion and multiple World record breaker Gabriela Szabo of Romania is retiring from athletic competition, the 29-year-old confirmed today.
The decision to retire comes 14 months after the middle distance running legend exclusively announced on the IAAF Website that she was to cancel her entire 2004 season due to exhaustion.
Click here for original story – 27 February 2004
“Everything has to come to an end,” Szabo told Reuters today. “Too much hard training, too much competition stress, that's enough.”
Last year when I made the decision to take a rest, “I felt blocked after 16 years of competition at the highest world level. Today I think is better to put an end to the happiest chapter of my life.”
This week, Szabo, who will turn 30 years of age on 14 November, was elected Romanian Athletic Federation vice-president.
Click here for previous election story
“It's a new race for me,” Szabo said. “It's the race of the social life, completely different from an athlete's life.”
Reuters and IAAF
