Jelena Nikolajewna Romanowa

Yelena Romanova ( Russian Елена Николаевна Романова ., English transcription Yelena Romanova, born Jelena Mali China ; * 20th March 1963 in Neschenskoje , Voronezh Oblast ; † 28. January 2007 in Volgograd ) was a Russian long-distance runner who until 1991 for the Soviet Union took and 1992 Olympic champion for the Commonwealth of Independent States .

Career in the Soviet Union (until 1991)

At the Junior European Championships in 1981 Jelena Malichina was second in the 1,500 meter run . At the European Indoor Championships in 1983, she won bronze in the 3,000 meter run in 9: 04.52 minutes. At the Universiade in the same year she won silver in 9: 06.17 minutes.

After the birth of her son in 1984, Jelena Romanova returned to the career path in 1985. At the European Indoor Championships in 1986 she was fourth over 3000 meters in 9: 03.87 min.

From 1987 she regularly took part in the world championships in cross-country running, her best individual placement was third in 1990, with the Soviet team she won bronze in 1987 and 1991 and gold from 1988 to 1990.

At the 1987 World Championships in Rome , she was fifth over 3000 meters in 8: 43.33 minutes. At the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 she finished fourth in 8: 30.45 minutes, and Tetjana Samolenko-Dorowskych was Olympic champion .

She saw the European Championships in Split in 1990 as the favorite over the 3000 meter course. In 8: 43.68 min she lost to the British Yvonne Murray in the final sprint . Two days later she took part in the 10,000 meter run and surprisingly won gold in 31: 46.83 minutes, increasing her personal best by almost 40 seconds. At the Goodwill Games , Romanowa won the 5000-meter run .

The following year at the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991 , she gave up on the 10,000-meter course. Over 3000 meters she won silver in 8: 36.06 minutes behind the defending champion Tetjana Samolenko-Dorowskych from Ukraine.

Career from 1992

At the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 Jelena Romanowa and Tetjana Samolenko-Dorowskych started for the last time in the same team, the United Team of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The 3000 meter run was held for the third and last time at the Olympic Games, and the 5000 meter run was to take its place from 1996. Jelena Romanowa was finally able to beat her endurance rival in a big race in 8: 46.04 min and won Olympic gold, Samolenko-Dorowskych was second in 8: 46.85 min.

Starting in 1993 for Russia, Jelena Romanowa immediately became national champion over 3000 meters. At the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart , she finished sixth in 8: 39.69 minutes.

In 1994 Jelena Romanowa became world champion with the Russian marathon relay and won both over 3000 meters and over 5000 meters at the Goodwill Games.

At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta , Jelena Romanowa was sixth in the Olympic premiere of the 5000-meter run for women in 15: 14.09 minutes.

With a height of 1.60 m, her competition weight was 51 kg. After retiring from competitive sports, she worked as a trainer. On January 28, 2007, she died suddenly at the age of 43, allegedly of heart failure.

Top performances

• 1500 meters: 4:00, 91 min (1992)
• 3000 meters: 8: 30.45 min (1988)
• 5000 meters: 14: 59.70 min (1991)
• 10,000 meters: 31: 46.83 min (1990)

literature

• Peter Matthews (Ed.): Athletics 1997. Surbiton 1997, ISBN 1-899807-02-0

Web links

• Yelena Romanova in the database of World Athletics (English)
• Message about her death at RIA Novosti (Engl.)