Szabo considers
change of tactics
Romania’s
Olympic champion hopes to regain her dominant form of 1998-2000
Andrei Nourescu for the IAAF
4 July 2001 - It was a big surprise to see Gabriela Szabo finish fourth at 3000m at the first Golden League meeting in Rome. The Romanian athlete has not lost so dramatically since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In the 5 years since then she has never finished outside the top 3 finishers. Although her time of 8:26.44, was not at all bad, Gabriela still seemed vulnerable over the last part of the race –where she was traditionally strongest. Her explanation seems perfect reasonable: “In the last few weeks, I trained at altitude, in Font Romeu, but there was bad weather, including snow, and this kept me well below the normal level of preparation for this period. I also caught the flu, so couldn’t train as planned. I have not yet reached the sort of fitness that would allow me to compete at 100%. That’s why I pulled out of the European Cup in Bremen”, said Gabriela. The absence of the leader of the Romanian team from Bremen surprised some officials in Bucharest, but in a meeting this Monday, they agreed that Gabriela’s excuse was acceptable. “Being 4th in Rome proves very clearly that I am not yet in my best shape and that maybe a week earlier I would have run even worse,” said Gabriela, who returned to Font Romeu immediately after the Golden Gala.
The Olympic 5000m champion stressed that her performance in Rome was good considering the circumstances and congratulated the three Russians who finished ahead of her. “This motivates me. Now I know where I am going wrong and I am working with my coach Gyongyossy on a radical change of tactics for future races”.
Gabriela’s life has not been easy in recent months, as she has been involved in two court cases in Bucharest, against her Romanian rival Violeta Beclea Szekely after comments Gabriela was reported to have said in a magazine and on TV. Gabriela wanted to settle out of court, but her overture was refused. “It’s true that I have also started proceedings against Beclea, but the difference is that she is demanding $150,000 from me in damages, and I am only asking her for a symbolic 100 lei (nb – 0.25 of a US cent), because I do not want to make money from this conflict, I just want justice”, Szabo said. For the same reason, Szabo and Beclea have also declined an offer of 1 billion lei (aprox 33,000 USD) from the sports manager Horatiu Nicolau, to run together in a “peace race” in Bucharest.
“Now I want to forget everything and stay quiet and calm. I need to be able to focus on my races”, said Gabriela. She knows that going back to altitude may not be the best way to prepare for a fast race in Paris on Friday, but it will help her arrive in Edmonton for the World Championships, her main goal for 2001, in the best possible shape.
