Doina Beșliu-Melinte

Doina Melinte (née Beșliu) played handball before taking up athletics. She first competed internationally at the 1980 Olympics, but her breakthrough year came in 1982, when she led the world list, although she finished a disappointing sixth at the European Championships. At the inaugural World Championships in 1983, Melinte was also sixth in 800 m. At the 1984 Olympics, in the absence of the top middle distance runners from Eastern Bloc, Melinte won gold in the 800 m and then five days later added silver in the 1,500 m. She later concentrated mainly on the 1,500.

Melinte won 1,500 bronzes at the 1986 Europeans and 1987 Worlds. She was the World Indoor 1,500 m champion in 1987 and 1989 and European Indoor 1,500 m champion in 1985, 1988 and 1990. She also won an 800 silver and 1,500 bronze at the 1984 and 1992 European Championships, respectively. At the Universiade she won 800 gold and 1,500 silver in 1981 and 1,500 silver and 800 bronze in 1983.

Melinte also set one world indoor record, in the mile, running 4:17.14 in February 1990, a record which stood as of early 2017. She was Romanian 800 champion in 1982-84 and 1989, and 1,500 metre champion in 1983-85 and 1992. Melinte finished her sporting career after the 1992 Olympics and later worked as an athletics coach. In 2010–2012 she served as director of the National Agency for Youth and Sports and later became vice-president of the national anti-doping agency.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:55.05 (1982); 1,500 – 3:56.7 (1986).