Photo: Partidul Social Democrat from Romania—CC BY 2.0

Gabriela Szabo

ROUWomen

Birth dateNov 14, 1975

BirthplaceBistrița, Romania

Height1.58 m

Weight40 kg

Gabriela Szabo 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.

She was named the BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year in 1999. 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.

Key facts

3000 m

8:21.42

#18 all-time

1500 m

3:56.97

#52 all-time

2003 season best

8:33.95

Aug 15, 2003 · Zürich (SUI)

2003 season best

Last competition

IAAF World Championships

Aug 30, 2003 · 14:59.36

IAAF World Championships

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze · World Championships: 3 gold

Record

National record · 3000 m 8:21.42

National record

Age

50 years old

As of Sep 18, 2026: 3000 m 8:21.42 (#18 all-time), 1500 m 3:56.97 (#52 all-time), 2003 season best 8:33.95 (Aug 15, 2003, Zürich (SUI)) · Last competition: IAAF World Championships, Aug 30, 2003, 14:59.36 · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze · World Championships: 3 gold · National record (3000 m) · 50 years old

Personal bests

3:56.97

4:19.30

8:21.42

14:31.48

4:03.23

5:30.53

5:30.53

8:32.88

4:23.19

14:47.35

25:33

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	1	1	3
World Championships	3	-	-	3
Total	4	1	1	6

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2003	3000m	8:33.95	-	Aug 15, 2003	↑	Weltklasse Zürich
2003	5000m	14:41.35	-	Jul 11, 2003	↑	Roma Golden Gala
2002	1500m	3:58.78	-	Aug 16, 2002	↑	Weltklasse Zürich
2002	3000m	8:21.42	-	Jul 19, 2002	↑	Monaco Herculis
2002	5000m	14:34.29	-	Aug 23, 2002	↑	London (GBR)
2002	8Kilometre	25:33	-	Mar 30, 2002	-	Balmoral (GBR)
2001	1500m	4:00.57	-	Aug 7, 2001	↑	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
2001	1500m-short-track	4:03.42	-	Feb 25, 2001	↑	Liévin (FRA) (i)
2001	Mile	4:23.19	-	Feb 4, 2001	↓	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
2001	mile-short-track	4:23.19	-	Feb 4, 2001	↑	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
2001	3000m	8:24.19	-	Aug 17, 2001	↑	Weltklasse Zürich
2001	3000m-short-track	8:32.88	-	Feb 18, 2001	↑	Birmingham (GBR) (i)
2001	5000m	14:46.92	-	Jul 13, 2001	↑	Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games
2000	1500m	4:00.73	-	Jun 24, 2000	↑	Eugene, OR (USA)
2000	mile-short-track	4:23.90	-	Feb 6, 2000	↑	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
2000	Mile	4:23.90	-	Feb 6, 2000	↓	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
2000	2000m	5:38.76	-	Feb 13, 2000	↓	Liévin (FRA) (i)
2000	2000Metres	5:38.76	-	Feb 13, 2000	↓	Liévin (FRA) (i)
2000	3000m	8:26.35	-	Aug 11, 2000	↑	Weltklasse Zürich
2000	3000m-short-track	8:35.42	-	Feb 20, 2000	↑	Birmingham (GBR) (i)
2000	5000m	14:40.61	-	Sep 1, 2000	↑	Berlin ISTAF
1999	1500m	4:03.23	-	Mar 6, 1999	↑	Green Dome, Maebashi (JPN) (i)
1999	1500m-short-track	4:03.23	-	Mar 6, 1999	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Green Dome, Maebashi (i)
1999	3000m	8:25.03	-	Aug 11, 1999	↑	Weltklasse Zürich
1999	3000m-short-track	8:34.09	-	Feb 21, 1999	↑	Liévin (FRA) (i)
1999	5000m	14:40.59	-	Sep 7, 1999	↑	Berlin ISTAF
1999	5000m-short-track	14:47.35	-	Feb 13, 1999	↑	Dortmund (GER) (i)
1998	1500m	3:56.97	-	Aug 8, 1998	↑	Monte Carlo Herculis-Zepter '98
1998	1500m-short-track	4:07.74	-	Feb 1, 1998	↑	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
1998	Mile	4:19.30	-	Jul 1, 1998	↓	Bellinzona (SUI)
1998	mile-short-track	4:27.27	-	Feb 22, 1998	↑	Liévin (FRA) (i)
1998	2000Metres	5:30.53	-	Mar 8, 1998	↓	Sindelfingen (GER) (i)
1998	2000m	5:30.53	-	Mar 8, 1998	↓	Sindelfingen (GER) (i)
1998	3000m	8:24.31	-	Jul 29, 1998	↑	Paris (FRA)
1998	3000m-short-track	8:49.96	-	Mar 1, 1998	↑	European Indoor Championships, Velódromo Luis Puig, Valencia (i)
1998	5000m	14:31.48	-	Sep 1, 1998	↑	Berlin ISTAF
1998	5000m-short-track	15:07.39	-	Feb 8, 1998	↑	Gent (BEL) (i)
1997	1500m-short-track	4:06.14	-	Feb 16, 1997	↑	Liévin (FRA) (i)
1997	1500m	4:06.25	-	Jun 22, 1997	↑	Liévin (FRA) (i)
1997	3000m	8:27.78	-	Aug 13, 1997	↑	Zürich (SUI)
1997	3000m-short-track	8:45.75	-	Mar 8, 1997	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships
1997	5000m	14:42.43	-	Jul 4, 1997	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1997	CrossCount	21:31	-	Jan 19, 1997	↓	-
1996	1500m	4:01.54	-	Aug 3, 1996	↑	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1996	3000m	8:36.07	-	Aug 10, 1996	↑	Monaco (MON)
1996	5000m	14:41.12	-	Jul 5, 1996	↑	Oslo (NOR)
1996	CrossCount	20:37	-	Mar 23, 1996	↓	24th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1995	1500m	4:11.73	-	Sep 3, 1995	↑	Fukuoka Universiade
1995	3000m	8:30.03	-	Aug 16, 1995	↑	Zürich (SUI)
1995	3000m-short-track	8:54.50	-	Mar 11, 1995	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships
1995	5000m	14:53.91	-	Aug 18, 1995	↑	Köln (GER)
1995	CrossCount	20:57	-	Mar 25, 1995	↓	23rd IAAF/SNICKERS World Cross Country Championships
1994	3000m	8:40.08	-	Aug 10, 1994	↑	Helsinki European Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
1994	CrossCount	14:25	-	Mar 26, 1994	↓	22nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1993	3000m	8:50.97	-	Aug 1, 1993	↑	European Junior Championships
1993	CrossCount	14:45	-	Mar 28, 1993	↓	21st IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1992	1500m	4:13.11	-	Jul 18, 1992	↑	Gateshead (GBR)
1992	3000m	8:48.28	-	Sep 20, 1992	↑	Seoul IAAF World Junior Championships
1992	CrossCount	14:12	-	Mar 21, 1992	↓	20th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1991	3000m	9:19.28	-	Aug 11, 1991	↑	European Junior Championships
1991	CrossCount	15:19	-	Mar 24, 1991	↓	19th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
5000m	14:59.36	-	Aug 30	IAAF World Championships
5000m	14:56.70	-	Aug 26	IAAF World Championships
5000m	14:59.36	-	Aug 23	IAAF World Championships
5000m	14:56.70	-	Aug 23	IAAF World Championships
3000m	8:33.95	-	Aug 15	Weltklasse Zürich
5000m	14:51.75	-	Aug 8	London Norwich Union British Grand Prix, Crystal Palace, London
5000m	14:41.35	-	Jul 11	Roma Golden Gala
3000m	8:34.09	-	Jul 4	Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000m	8:50.89	-	Sep 20	Madrid IAAF World Cup
3000m	8:56.29	-	Sep 14	Paris IAAF Grand Prix Final, Stade Charléty, Paris
3000m	8:26.15	-	Aug 30	Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme
5000m	14:34.29	-	Aug 23	London Norwich Union British Grand Prix, London
1500m	3:58.78	-	Aug 16	Weltklasse Zürich
1500m	3:58.81	-	Aug 11	München European Championships, Olympiastadion, München
1500m	4:05.14	-	Aug 9	München European Championships, Olympiastadion, München
1500m	4:05.14	-	Aug 6	München European Championships, Olympiastadion, München
1500m	3:58.81	-	Aug 6	München European Championships, Olympiastadion, München
3000m	8:21.42	-	Jul 19	Monaco Herculis
5000m	14:55.48	-	Jul 12	Roma Golden Gala
3000m	8:31.88	-	Jul 5	Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France
5000m	14:46.86	-	Jun 28	Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games
3000m	8:38.03	-	Jun 23	SPAR European Cup, Parc des Sports, Annecy
3000m	8:38.03	-	Jun 22	-
8Kilometre	25:33	-	Mar 30	Balmoral

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000m	8:31.90	-	Aug 24	Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme
3000m	8:24.19	-	Aug 17	Weltklasse Zürich
5000m	15:19.55	-	Aug 11	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	15:16.02	-	Aug 9	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:00.57	-	Aug 7	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:07.40	-	Aug 5	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:10.77	-	Aug 4	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:00.57	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:10.77	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
1500m	4:07.40	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	15:16.02	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	15:19.55	-	Aug 3	IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
5000m	14:46.92	-	Jul 13	Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games
3000m	8:27.21	-	Jul 6	Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France
3000m	8:26.44	-	Jun 29	Roma Golden Gala
3000m-short-track	8:39.65	-	Mar 10	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i)
3000m-short-track	8:55.84	-	Mar 9	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i)
3000m-short-track	8:39.65	-	Mar 9	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i)
1500m	4:03.42	-	Feb 25	-
1500m-short-track	4:03.42	-	Feb 25	Meeting Gaz de France du Pas-de-Calais, Liévin (i)
3000m-short-track	8:32.88	-	Feb 18	Birmingham Norwich Union Indoor Grand Prix, Birmingham (i)
1500m	4:04.44	-	Feb 11	-
1500m-short-track	4:04.44	-	Feb 11	Dortmund Sparkassen Indoor Meeting, Dortmund (i)
mile-short-track	4:23.19	-	Feb 4	Stuttgart Sparkassen Cup, Stuttgart (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
1500m	4:05.27	-	Sep 30	The XXVII Olympic Games
1500m	4:07.38	-	Sep 28	The XXVII Olympic Games

Honours

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

3000 Metres

2003

🥇

Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France

3000 Metres

2003

🥈

München European Championships

1500 Metres

2002

🥈

Madrid IAAF World Cup

3000 Metres

2002

🥇

Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games

5000 Metres

2002

🥇

Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France

3000 Metres

2002

🥇

Monaco Herculis

3000 Metres

2002

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

1500 Metres

2002

🥇

Paris IAAF Grand Prix Final

3000 Metres

2002

🥈

München European Championships

1500 Metres

2002

IAAF World Championships

5000 Metres

2001

🥇

IAAF World Championships

1500 Metres

2001

🥈

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

2001

🥇

The XXVII Olympic Games

5000 Metres

2000

🥉

The XXVII Olympic Games

1500 Metres

2000

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

3000 Metres

2000

🥇

European Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

2000

🥇

IAAF World Indoor Championships

1500 Metres Short Track

1999

🥇

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

1999

🥇

Oslo Mobil Bislett Games

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

Roma Golden Gala

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

IAAF World Championships

5000 Metres

1999

🥇

Monte Carlo Herculis-Zepter '99

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

Weltklasse Zürich

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

München IAAF Grand Prix Final

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme

3000 Metres

1999

🥇

Berlin ISTAF

5000 Metres

1999

🥇

Johannesburg IAAF World Cup

3000 Metres

1998

🥈

Budapest European Championships

5000 Metres

1998

🥈

Budapest European Championships

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

Berlin ISTAF

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

Monte Carlo Herculis-Zepter '98

1500 Metres

1998

🥇

European Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

1998

🥇

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

1997

🥇

IAAF World Championships

5000 Metres

1997

🥇

Catania Universiade

1500 Metres

1997

🥈

The XXVI Olympic Games

1500 Metres

1996

24th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Senior Race

1996

🥇

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

1995

23rd IAAF/SNICKERS World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Senior Race

1995

🥇

Fukuoka Universiade

1500 Metres

1995

🥇

Fukuoka Universiade

5000 Metres

1995

IAAF World Championships

5000 Metres

1995

🥇

Lisboa IAAF World Junior Championships

3000 Metres

1994

22nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country U20 Race

1994

🥉

London IAAF World Cup

3000 Metres

1994

🥉

Helsinki European Championships

3000 Metres

1994

🥉

Helsinki European Championships

3000 Metres

1994

🥇

European Junior Championships

3000 Metres

1993

21st IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country U20 Race

1993

🥈

Seoul IAAF World Junior Championships

3000 Metres

1992

🥇

European Junior Championships

3000 Metres

1991

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Gabriela Szabo's 3000 m personal best?

Gabriela Szabo's 3000 m personal best is 8:21.42, set on Jul 19, 2002 in Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON), #18 on the all-time list.

Which events does Gabriela Szabo compete in?

Gabriela Szabo competes in the 3000 m and 1500 m.

How did Gabriela Szabo perform in 2003?

2003 season best: 8:33.95, set on Aug 15, 2003 in Zürich (SUI). Last competition: IAAF World Championships on Aug 30, 2003, 14:59.36.

How many medals has Gabriela Szabo won?

Gabriela Szabo has won 3 Olympic Games medals and 3 World Championships medals.