Former Universiade Champion appointed Minister of Sport

Gabriela Szabo on the medal podium at the 1995 SU in FukuokaLAUSANNE – FISU’s slogan ‘Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Leaders’, is not an idle catchphrase. Sometimes, former student-athletes who competed in FISU’s major sporting events reach not only the pinnacle in their sport but go beyond and become leaders in society. That’s currently the case with former Universiade champion Gabriela Szabo who has been appointed as the Minister of Youth and Sport of Romania’s new government.

A star on the Universiade athletics track winning double gold in Fukuoka (1995 SU/1,500m & 5,000m) and gold in Sicily (1997 SU/1,500m), Gabriela Szabo also became an Olympic champion (2000 OG/5000m), triple world champion and winner of four world indoor titles as well. Since officially retiring from competition in 2005, she has remained active in the sport. The 38-year-old is on the IAAF Women’s Committee and is a council member for European Athletics. She is also the vice-president of the Romanian Athletics Federation and in 1999 was elected by the AIPS the ‘Best sports women of the year’. In 2008 she received the Gold Award from the Romanian Olympic Committee, and in 2009, she was awarded by the International Olympic Committee with the “Women and Sport” trophy. 

C. Pierre, Press Officer