Photo: Radu Constantinescu—Public domain
Maricica Puică
ROUWomenMaricica Puică, née Maricica Luca, (29 July 1950) is a retired Romanian middle-distance runner. She is the 1984 Olympic champion in the 3,000 metres. One of the greatest female middle-distance runners of the 1980s, she also twice won the World Cross Country Championship (1982, 1984) and broke the world record for the mile in 1982.
As of Sep 18, 2026: 1500 m 3:57.22 (#60 all-time), 1000 Metres 2:31.5h, 1994 season best 4:04.45 (Aug 18, 1994) · Olympic Games: 1 gold, 1 bronze · World Championships: 1 silver · National record (2000 Metres) · 76 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
| World Championships | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Performance Charts
Season bests
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Trend | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1500m | 4:04.45 | - | Aug 18, 1994 | ↑ | - |
| 1989 | 1000m-short-track | 2:42.64 | - | Jan 22, 1989 | - | Sherbrooke (CAN) (i) |
| 1989 | 1000m | 2:42.64 | - | Jan 22, 1989 | ↓ | Sherbrooke (CAN) (i) |
| 1989 | Mile | 4:33.49 | - | Feb 3, 1989 | ↓ | New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 1989 | mile-short-track | 4:33.49 | - | Feb 3, 1989 | ↓ | New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 1989 | 3000m | 9:11.61 | - | Jan 28, 1989 | ↑ | Johnson City, TN (USA) (i) |
| 1989 | 3000m-short-track | 9:15.49 | - | Feb 19, 1989 | ↓ | European Indoor Championships, Sporthal Houtrust, Den Haag (i) |
| 1988 | mile-short-track | 4:41.33 | - | Feb 13, 1988 | ↓ | East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i) |
| 1988 | Mile | 4:41.33 | - | Feb 13, 1988 | ↓ | East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i) |
| 1988 | 3000m | 8:53.85 | - | Aug 31, 1988 | ↑ | Rieti (ITA) |
| 1987 | 1500m | 4:05.90 | - | Jul 16, 1987 | ↑ | Paris (FRA) |
| 1987 | 1500m-short-track | 4:16.43 | - | Feb 13, 1987 | - | Hamilton (CAN) (i) |
| 1987 | Mile | 4:26.70 | - | Jul 10, 1987 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 1987 | mile-short-track | 4:33.40 | - | Feb 20, 1987 | ↓ | Inglewood, CA (USA) (i) |
| 1987 | 3000m | 8:39.45 | - | Sep 1, 1987 | ↑ | IAAF World Championships |
| 1987 | 3000m-short-track | 8:43.49 | - | Feb 27, 1987 | ↓ | New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 1987 | 5000m | 15:23.48 | - | Jul 19, 1987 | ↑ | Hengelo (NED) |
| 1987 | 10000m | 33:32.97 | - | Aug 9, 1987 | - | Pitesti (ROU) |
| 1986 | 1000m | 2:31.5h | - | Jun 1, 1986 | ↓ | Poiana Brasov (ROU) |
| 1986 | 1500m | 3:59.62 | - | Jun 14, 1986 | ↑ | Bucuresti Romanian Championships |
| 1986 | Mile | 4:18.25 | - | Jul 15, 1986 | ↓ | Nice (FRA) |
| 1986 | mile-short-track | 4:29.21 | - | Feb 14, 1986 | ↓ | New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 1986 | 2000m | 5:28.69 | - | Jul 11, 1986 | ↑ | London (GBR) |
| 1986 | 3000m | 8:35.92 | - | Aug 28, 1986 | ↑ | Stuttgart European Championships |
| 1985 | 1500m | 3:57.73 | - | Aug 30, 1985 | ↑ | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 1985 | Mile | 4:17.33 | - | Aug 21, 1985 | ↓ | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) |
| 1985 | mile-short-track | 4:30.0h | - | Feb 15, 1985 | ↓ | San Diego, CA (USA) (i) |
| 1985 | 2000m | 5:30.39 | - | Sep 4, 1985 | ↑ | Rieti (ITA) |
| 1985 | 3000m | 8:27.83 | - | Sep 7, 1985 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 1985 | 3000m-short-track | 8:53.53 | - | Feb 9, 1985 | ↓ | East Rutherford, NJ (USA) (i) |
| 1985 | 2MilesShor | 9:41.60 | - | Feb 22, 1985 | - | USA Indoor Championships |
| 1985 | 2Miles | 9:41.60 | - | Feb 22, 1985 | - | New York, NY (USA) (i) |
| 1985 | 5000m | 15:06.04 | - | Jul 5, 1985 | ↑ | Helsinki (FIN) |
| 1984 | 800m | 1:58.12 | - | Jul 11, 1984 | ↓ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1984 | 1000m | 2:35.7h | - | Jun 1, 1984 | ↓ | Poiana Brasov (ROU) |
| 1984 | 1500m | 3:57.22 | - | Jul 1, 1984 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1984 | 3000m | 8:33.57 | - | Jul 10, 1984 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1984 | CrossCount | 15:56 | - | Mar 25, 1984 | ↑ | 12th IAAF World Cross Country Championships |
| 1983 | 3000m | 9:06.57 | - | Jun 25, 1983 | ↑ | Izmir (TUR) |
| 1982 | 1500m | 3:57.48 | - | Jul 31, 1982 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1982 | Mile | 4:17.44 | - | Sep 16, 1982 | ↓ | Rieti (ITA) |
| 1982 | mile-short-track | 4:28.55 | - | Mar 10, 1982 | ↓ | Milano (ITA) (i) |
| 1982 | 3000m | 8:31.67 | - | Aug 14, 1982 | ↑ | Bucuresti Balkan Championships |
| 1982 | 3000m-short-track | 8:54.26 | - | Mar 6, 1982 | ↓ | European Indoor Championships, Palazzo dello Sport, Milano (i) |
| 1982 | CrossCount | 14:38.9 | - | Mar 21, 1982 | ↑ | 10th IAAF World Cross Country Championships |
| 1981 | 800m | 1:58.48 | - | Aug 2, 1981 | ↓ | Pescara (ITA) |
| 1981 | 1500m | 3:58.29 | - | Jul 29, 1981 | ↑ | Budapest (HUN) |
| 1981 | Mile | 4:21.82 | - | Aug 5, 1981 | ↓ | Viareggio (ITA) |
| 1981 | 3000m | 8:34.30 | - | Jul 12, 1981 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1980 | 1500m | 3:59.3h | - | Jul 6, 1980 | ↑ | Moskva (URS) |
| 1979 | 800m | 1:57.8h | - | Jun 17, 1979 | ↓ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1979 | 1500m | 3:59.8h | - | Jul 13, 1979 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1979 | 2000m | 5:35.5h | - | May 19, 1979 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1979 | 3000m | 8:49.1h | - | Jun 30, 1979 | ↑ | Sofia (BUL) |
| 1978 | 1500m | 4:05.13 | - | Aug 12, 1978 | ↑ | Thessaloniki (GRE) |
| 1978 | 3000m | 8:40.94 | - | Aug 29, 1978 | ↑ | Praha European Championships, Stadion Evžena Rošického, Praha |
| 1978 | CrossCount | 16:59 | - | Mar 25, 1978 | ↑ | 6th IAAF World Cross Country Championships |
| 1977 | 1500m | 4:05.1h | - | Jun 4, 1977 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1977 | 3000m | 8:46.4h | - | Jun 11, 1977 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
| 1977 | 5000m | 16:17.4h | - | Mar 16, 1977 | ↑ | Oradea (ROU) |
| 1976 | 1500m | 4:06.1h | - | Jun 8, 1976 | ↑ | Düsseldorf (GER) |
| 1976 | 3000m | 9:18.4h | - | Aug 15, 1976 | ↑ | Bucureşti (ROU) |
1994
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 4:04.45 | - | Aug 18 | - |
1989
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000m-short-track | 9:15.49 | - | Feb 19 | European Indoor Championships, Sporthal Houtrust, Den Haag (i) |
3000m-short-track | 9:15.49 | - | Feb 18 | European Indoor Championships, Sporthal Houtrust, Den Haag (i) |
mile-short-track | 4:37.48 | - | Feb 10 | East Rutherford Vitalis Olympic Invitational, East Rutherford, NJ (i) |
mile-short-track | 4:38.92 | - | Feb 5 | Fairfax, VA (i) |
mile-short-track | 4:33.49 | - | Feb 3 | Millrose Games, New York, NY (i) |
3000m | 9:11.61 | - | Jan 28 | Johnson City, TN (i) |
1000m-short-track | 2:42.64 | - | Jan 22 | Sherbrooke (i) |
1988
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000m | 8:53.85 | - | Aug 31 | Rieti |
mile-short-track | 4:41.33 | - | Feb 13 | East Rutherford, NJ (i) |
1987
17 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000m | 8:42.30 | - | Sep 11 | Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme |
3000m | 8:58.84 | - | Sep 8 | Rieti |
3000m | 8:39.45 | - | Sep 1 | IAAF World Championships |
3000m | 8:39.45 | - | Aug 29 | IAAF World Championships |
3000m | 8:45.55 | - | Aug 29 | IAAF World Championships |
3000m | 8:42.15 | - | Aug 19 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich |
10000m | 33:32.97 | - | Aug 9 | Pitesti NC, Pitesti |
3000m | 8:43.71 | - | Jul 22 | Roma Golden Gala, Roma |
5000m | 15:23.48 | - | Jul 19 | Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo |
1500m | 4:05.90 | - | Jul 16 | Paris |
Mile | 4:26.70 | - | Jul 10 | London Peugeot-Talbot Games, London |
3000m | 8:49.79 | - | Jul 6 | Budapest Grand Prix, Budapest |
3000m-short-track | 8:47.92 | - | Mar 7 | IAAF World Indoor Championships, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN (i) |
3000m-short-track | 8:47.92 | - | Mar 6 | IAAF World Indoor Championships, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN (i) |
3000m-short-track | 8:43.49 | - | Feb 27 | New York, NY (i) |
mile-short-track | 4:33.40 | - | Feb 20 | Inglewood, CA (i) |
1500m-short-track | 4:16.43 | - | Feb 13 | Hamilton (i) |
1986
23 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 4:03.55 | - | Sep 10 | Roma Golden Gala, Stadio Olimpico, Roma |
Mile | 4:22.11 | - | Sep 5 | Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles |
1500m | 4:03.90 | - | Aug 31 | Stuttgart European Championships |
1500m | 4:06.87 | - | Aug 29 | Stuttgart European Championships |
3000m | 8:35.92 | - | Aug 28 | Stuttgart European Championships |
3000m | 8:35.92 | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
1500m | 4:06.87 | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
1500m | 4:03.90 | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
3000m | 8:47.70 | - | Aug 26 | Stuttgart European Championships |
3000m | 8:37.84 | - | Aug 17 | Köln ASV, Köln |
3000m | 8:39.06 | - | Aug 13 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich |
Mile | 4:20.89 | - | Jul 22 | Paris Meeting BNP, Paris |
1500m | 4:03.3 | - | Jul 22 | - |
Mile | 4:18.25 | - | Jul 15 | Nice Nikaďa, Nice |
1500m | 4:01.15 | - | Jul 15 | - |
2000m | 5:28.69 | - | Jul 11 | London Peugeot-Talbot Games, London |
3000m | 8:40.72 | - | Jul 7 | Helsinki World Games, Helsinki |
1500m | 4:01.20 | - | Jul 5 | Oslo Bislett Games, Oslo |
1500m | 4:00.38 | - | Jul 1 | Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm |
3000m | 8:38.91 | - | Jun 15 | Bucuresti Romanian Championships, Bucureşti |
1500m | 3:59.62 | - | Jun 14 | Bucuresti Romanian Championships |
1000m | 2:31.5HT | - | Jun 1 | Poiana Brasov |
mile-short-track | 4:31.2HT | - | Feb 23 | San Diego, CA (i) |
Honours
European Indoor Championships
3000 Metres Short Track
Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme
3000 Metres
IAAF World Championships
3000 Metres
IAAF World Indoor Championships
3000 Metres Short Track
Stuttgart European Championships
3000 Metres
Stuttgart European Championships
1500 Metres
Stuttgart European Championships
3000 Metres
Stuttgart European Championships
1500 Metres
Bucuresti Romanian Championships
1500 Metres
Roma Golden Gala
3000 Metres
12th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
The XXIII Olympic Games
3000 Metres
The XXIII Olympic Games
1500 Metres
Athina European Championships
3000 Metres
Bucuresti Balkan Championships
3000 Metres
Athina European Championships
3000 Metres
Athina European Championships
1500 Metres
European Indoor Championships
3000 Metres Short Track
10th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
Athina European Championships
1500 Metres
Roma IAAF World Cup
3000 Metres
The XXII Olympic Games
1500 Metres
Praha European Championships
3000 Metres
Praha European Championships
3000 Metres
6th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
Sofia Universiade
1500 Metres
Frequently asked questions
What is Maricica Puică's 1500 m personal best?
Maricica Puică's 1500 m personal best is 3:57.22, set on Jul 1, 1984 in Bucureşti (ROU), #60 on the all-time list.
Which events does Maricica Puică compete in?
Maricica Puică competes in the 1500 m and 1000 Metres.
How did Maricica Puică perform in 1994?
1994 season best: 4:04.45, set on Aug 18, 1994.
How many medals has Maricica Puică won?
Maricica Puică has won 2 Olympic Games medals and 1 World Championships medal.