Paula Ivan

Paula Ivan had a relatively short, but highly successful athletics career. She rose to prominence in 1987, when she won both the 1,500 m and 3,000 m events at the Universiade. In 1988, Ivan won both the 800 m and 1,500 m at the Balkan Games and went to the 1988 Olympics as a world leader in 1,500 m. At the Olympics, Ivan first competed in the 3,000 metres, winning silver, and then five days later won gold in the 1,500 m. Her victory in the 1,500 metre was a dominant one, as Ivan led the race from the gun and won by over 40 metres ahead of Laimutė Baikauskaitė. Her winning time of 3:53.96 was the second fastest performance ever and was still an Olympic record as of 2019.

In 1989, Ivan won the 1,500 m at the European Indoor Championships, defended her 1,500/3,000 titles at the Universiade, and won the 1,500 m at the IAAF World Cup. In July 1989 she set the world mile record, running 4:15.61. She was Romanian 1,500 m champion in 1987 and 1989, 3,000 m champion in 1988, and was world ranked #1 in the 1,500 m in 1988 and 1989, and the 3,000 m in 1989. Ivan retired from sports after the 1989 season and later worked as a coach, although she had a brief, unremarkable, comeback in 2000. In 2002, she began work at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Spiru Haret University in Bucharest.

Personal Bests: 1,500 – 3:53.96 (1988); 3,000 – 8:27.15 (1988).