Elena Fidatov
Encyclopedia
Elena Fidatov, sometimes known as Elena Fidatof, (born 24 July 1960) is a former Romania
n middle- and long-distance runner who competed in track
, road
, and cross country running
competitions. In a period spanning 1984 to 2002, she competed at IAAF World Cross Country Championships
on thirteen occasions, making her one of the most frequent participants at the event. She is a two-time Olympian for Romania, having represented her country at the 1992
and 1996 Summer Olympics
.
She ran on the track at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics
on three occasions, competing in events from 1500 metres
to 5000 metres
. She was integral to a number of team medal performances for Romania at the World Cross Country event and also the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
. Individually, she won a bronze and a silver medal at the European Cross Country Championships
in 1994 and 1997, respectively. Her later career was marred by doping incidents; she was reprieved of a failed test in 1996 but received a two-year ban from the sport in 1998 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid
nandrolone
.
, Romania, Elena Fidatov made her international debut at the 1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, reaching the top 40 in the women's long race. She was much improved at the 1985 World Cross Country event and her tenth place finish helped the Romanian women, led by Fiţa Lovin
, to the team bronze medal
. She was third at the Balkan Cross Country Championships that year and succeeded her compatriot Mariana Chirila to the title the following season. Fidatov came ninth in the long race at the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
. She did not compete internationally in the late 1980s.
Fidatov took the Balkan Cross Country title for a second time in 1990, but managed only 60th place on the world stage. That same year she was fifth over 1500 metres
at the 1990 European Athletics Championships. Her focus began to turn to track running and she competed in the 1500 m finals at both the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
. She doubled up for the 1993 World Championships in Athletics
, running in both the 1500 m and 3000 metres
, although she failed to progress from the heats stage in either discipline. Her performances did earn her a place in the 3000 m at the 1993 IAAF Grand Prix Final, where she finished sixth. She also improved in the World Cross Country Championships over this period, coming 25th and 26th in the 1992 and 1993 editions, respectively.
With no major track events for prepare for in 1994, her major outing of the year was at the 1994 European Cross Country Championships
, where she took the bronze medal and led Romania to the team title with Chirila and Margareta Keszeg
. She also made her debut at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
, where she was fifth and easily took the team title alongside medallists Iulia Negura and Anuţa Cătună
. Fidatov competed in world-level events on the road, track and grass in the 1995 season, beginning with 23rd place and a team bronze at the 1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, tenth in the 5000 metres
final at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics
, and culminating in a team gold medal for her sixth place finish at the 1995 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
.
Her 1996 season started with controversy as she failed a doping test in South Africa
for a banned diuretic
. However, she escaped punishment as a panel accepted that she had used the substance to treat her kidney pain. She retained her World Cross bronze in 1996, in a Romanian team led by an emerging Gabriela Szabo
. Her second Olympic appearance, representing Romania in the 5000 m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in August, saw her claim a career best finish in a global track final by coming seventh overall. The following month, she was selected for the marathon
relay at the 1996 IAAF World Road Relay Championships and the team (including Iulia Ionescu, Chirila, Lelia Deselnecu, Negura and Luminita Gogârlea) finished as runners-up behind the Ethiopian women.
She had a highly successful cross country season in 1997, taking a series of high profile circuit wins including the Antrim International Cross Country
, Cross Zornotza
, Cross de San Sebastián
, Cross Internacional de Itálica
, Eurocross
, and Almond Blossom Cross Country
. These performances helped rank her in second place on that year's IAAF World Cross Challenge
, behind winner Gete Wami
. The thirty-six-year-old also had one of her highest placings at the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, coming twelfth in the women's long race. She ended the year with a silver medal
at the 1997 European Cross Country Championships
, leading Romania to second place in the team rankings.
She failed a doping control test at the 1998 Cross Zornotza after nandrolone
was detected in her system, an infraction which led to a two-year ban from the sport. She did not stop her training during this period and received clearance from the IAAF to take part in the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
. She managed 46th in the short race but only 68th place in the long race that year. She competed twice more at the event, taking 13th in the short race in 2001 (leading Romania to the bronze) and finishing 41st in 2002. These performances brought her total number of career appearances at the competition to thirteen.
In 2000, at the age of 40, she ran the 5,000 metres on the track in 15:20.59 to win the Romanian National Championships. The time is the current W40 Masters World Record
in the event.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n middle- and long-distance runner who competed in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, road
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
, and cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
competitions. In a period spanning 1984 to 2002, she competed at IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
on thirteen occasions, making her one of the most frequent participants at the event. She is a two-time Olympian for Romania, having represented her country at the 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
.
She ran on the track at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
on three occasions, competing in events from 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
to 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
. She was integral to a number of team medal performances for Romania at the World Cross Country event and also the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships is an annual half marathon competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was contested from 1992 to 2005, and replaced by the IAAF World Road Running Championships, a 20 kilometres race which had its inaugural...
. Individually, she won a bronze and a silver medal at the European Cross Country Championships
European Cross Country Championships
The European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
in 1994 and 1997, respectively. Her later career was marred by doping incidents; she was reprieved of a failed test in 1996 but received a two-year ban from the sport in 1998 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
.
Career
Born in TulceaTulcea
Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :...
, Romania, Elena Fidatov made her international debut at the 1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1984 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 12th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 25, 1984 in the Meadowlands Sports Complex . There were a total number of 442 participating athletes from 40 countries.- Individual :- Team :...
, reaching the top 40 in the women's long race. She was much improved at the 1985 World Cross Country event and her tenth place finish helped the Romanian women, led by Fiţa Lovin
Fita Lovin
Fiţa Lovin is a former middle distance runner from Romania who won the bronze medal in 800 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics. She also won a silver medal at the 1985 IAAF World Indoor Championships....
, to the team bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
. She was third at the Balkan Cross Country Championships that year and succeeded her compatriot Mariana Chirila to the title the following season. Fidatov came ninth in the long race at the 1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1986 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 14th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 23, 1986 in Colombier . There were a total number of 670 participating athletes from 57 countries.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
. She did not compete internationally in the late 1980s.
Fidatov took the Balkan Cross Country title for a second time in 1990, but managed only 60th place on the world stage. That same year she was fifth over 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
at the 1990 European Athletics Championships. Her focus began to turn to track running and she competed in the 1500 m finals at both the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders...
. She doubled up for the 1993 World Championships in Athletics
1993 World Championships in Athletics
The 4th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, Germany between August 13 and August 22 with the participation of 187 nations....
, running in both the 1500 m and 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
, although she failed to progress from the heats stage in either discipline. Her performances did earn her a place in the 3000 m at the 1993 IAAF Grand Prix Final, where she finished sixth. She also improved in the World Cross Country Championships over this period, coming 25th and 26th in the 1992 and 1993 editions, respectively.
With no major track events for prepare for in 1994, her major outing of the year was at the 1994 European Cross Country Championships
1994 European Cross Country Championships
The 1st European Cross Country Championships were held at Alnwick in England on 10 December 1994. Paulo Guerra took the title in the men's competition and Catherina McKiernan won the women's race.-Men individual 9.5 km:Total 103 competitors-Men teams:...
, where she took the bronze medal and led Romania to the team title with Chirila and Margareta Keszeg
Margareta Keszeg
Margareta Keszeg is a retired middle distance runner from Romania, best known for winning several medals in European and World Indoor Championships over 3000 metres. Her only victory came at the 1992 European Indoor Championships. Her personal best time was 8:46.70 minutes.-Achievements:-...
. She also made her debut at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 3rd IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on September 24, 1994 in Oslo, Norway. A total of 215 athletes, 127 men and 88 women, from 47 countries took part.-Individual:-Team:-Individual:-Team:-External links:*...
, where she was fifth and easily took the team title alongside medallists Iulia Negura and Anuţa Cătună
Anuta Catuna
Anuţa Cătună is a former female long-distance runner from Romania, who represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996. She won the 1996 edition of the New York City Marathon.-Achievements:-References:* *...
. Fidatov competed in world-level events on the road, track and grass in the 1995 season, beginning with 23rd place and a team bronze at the 1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 23rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 25 March 1995 in Durham, England.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
, tenth in the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
final at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics
1995 World Championships in Athletics
The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden between August 5 and August 13.This edition featured 1804 athletes from 191 nations....
, and culminating in a team gold medal for her sixth place finish at the 1995 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
1995 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 4th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held on October 1, 1995 in Montbéliard–Belfort, France. A total of 243 athletes, 147 men and 96 women, from 54 countries took part.-Individual:-Team:-Individual:-Team:-External links:...
.
Her 1996 season started with controversy as she failed a doping test in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for a banned diuretic
Diuretic
A diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class does so in a distinct way.- Medical uses :...
. However, she escaped punishment as a panel accepted that she had used the substance to treat her kidney pain. She retained her World Cross bronze in 1996, in a Romanian team led by an emerging Gabriela Szabo
Gabriela Szabo
Gabriela Szabo is a Romanian track and field athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics in 5000 m and winner of bronze and silver medals in 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics in 1500 m, respectively....
. Her second Olympic appearance, representing Romania in the 5000 m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in August, saw her claim a career best finish in a global track final by coming seventh overall. The following month, she was selected for the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
relay at the 1996 IAAF World Road Relay Championships and the team (including Iulia Ionescu, Chirila, Lelia Deselnecu, Negura and Luminita Gogârlea) finished as runners-up behind the Ethiopian women.
She had a highly successful cross country season in 1997, taking a series of high profile circuit wins including the Antrim International Cross Country
Antrim International Cross Country
The Antrim International Cross Country, formerly the Belfast International Cross Country, is an annual cross country running meeting which takes place every January in Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is one of the IAAF's cross country permit meetings, as well as being part of the UK Cross Challenge tour...
, Cross Zornotza
Cross Zornotza
The Cross Internacional Zornotza is an annual cross country running event which takes place in January in Amorebieta-Etxano , the Basque Country, Spain. The competition was first held in 1954 and has taken place every year since, with the sole exception of 1961...
, Cross de San Sebastián
Cross de San Sebastián
The Cross Internacional de San Sebastián, also known as the Cross Internacional de Donostia, is an annual cross country running event which is staged in late January in San Sebastián, Spain....
, Cross Internacional de Itálica
Cross Internacional de Itálica
The Cross Internacional de Itálica is an annual cross country running competition that is held every January in Santiponce, near Seville, Spain. Inaugurated in 1982, the race course is set in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Itálica...
, Eurocross
Eurocross
Eurocross is an annual international cross country running competition which takes place in Diekirch, Luxembourg in February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships....
, and Almond Blossom Cross Country
Almond Blossom Cross Country
The Almond Blossom Cross Country is an annual international cross country running competition which takes place in Albufeira, Portugal in early March. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. It is held in co-operation...
. These performances helped rank her in second place on that year's IAAF World Cross Challenge
IAAF World Cross Challenge
The IAAF World Cross Challenge was a cross-country running contest organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The athletes accumulated points in three specific cross country meets during the season.-Men:-Women:...
, behind winner Gete Wami
Gete Wami
Getenesh Wami is a female Ethiopian cross country and track runner....
. The thirty-six-year-old also had one of her highest placings at the 1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 23 March 1997 in Turin, Italy.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
, coming twelfth in the women's long race. She ended the year with a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
at the 1997 European Cross Country Championships
1997 European Cross Country Championships
The 4th European Cross Country Championships were held at Oeiras in Portugal on 14 December 1997. Danish orienteer Carsten Jørgensen took the title in the men's competition and Joalsiae Llado won the women's race.-Men individual 10km:83 runners finished....
, leading Romania to second place in the team rankings.
She failed a doping control test at the 1998 Cross Zornotza after nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
was detected in her system, an infraction which led to a two-year ban from the sport. She did not stop her training during this period and received clearance from the IAAF to take part in the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 18-19 March 2000 in Vilamoura, Portugal.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :...
. She managed 46th in the short race but only 68th place in the long race that year. She competed twice more at the event, taking 13th in the short race in 2001 (leading Romania to the bronze) and finishing 41st in 2002. These performances brought her total number of career appearances at the competition to thirteen.
In 2000, at the age of 40, she ran the 5,000 metres on the track in 15:20.59 to win the Romanian National Championships. The time is the current W40 Masters World Record
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in the event.