Lia Manoliu
Encyclopedia
Lia Manoliu (ˈli.a manoˈli.u; April 25, 1932 in Chişinău
, now Republic of Moldova – January 9, 1998 in Bucharest
) was a Romania
n discus throw
er who won three Olympic medals, including one gold. She was the first Track & Field
athlete to compete at six Olympics.
Lia started her Olympic career at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
, where she finished 6th with a throw of 42.64m.
She bettered this distance at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne, Australia, throwing 43.90m for a ninth place finish. At the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome
, she held the lead after the first round with a throw of 52.36m, and although she was unable to improve upon this in subsequent rounds, the throw was sufficient to earn her the bronze medal. At the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, Manoliu was lying in fourth place after round four, but she produced a throw of 56.96m on her fifth attempt to gain her second Olympic bronze medal.
In the winter of 1967–68, the Romanian Athletics Federation informed the 35 year-old Manoliu that she was too old to try for the Olympics again and that she need not bother turning out for their training camp sessions. This only served to increase Manoliu's determination, and after months of hard and lonely training, she qualified for the Romanian team to the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
. In Mexico, she carried an injury to her throwing arm sustained in a shot-putting accident into the competition, and the team doctor warned her that it was good for only one good throw. One throw was all Manoliu needed, registering a distance of 58.28m on her first attempt, which proved good enough for the gold medal.
On 19 July 1969, Manoliu won the UK national WAAA discus title at the Crystal Palace
, and in 1972, in her final year of competition, she finished 9th in the discus final at the 1972 Summer Olympics
.
In 1972, she was awarded the UNESCO Fair Play Prize, for her support to the ideals of fair and loyal competition.
Manoliu competed at her sixth Olympics in 1972, coming ninth in the Final. Ironically, her throw of 58.50m was longer than the 58.28m that had won her Gold four years earlier. In any case, it would be another 24 years until another Track & Field
athlete would compete at six Olympics – javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson
in 1996. (Sprinter Merlene Ottey
would compete in her sixth Olympics in 2000 and her seventh in 2004.)
Between 1990 and her death she served as President of the Romanian Olympic Committee.
She was a member of the Romanian Senate
in the 1992–1996 legislature.
She died of a heart attack in January 1998 after lapsing into a coma during surgery for a brain tumor the week before. She was buried at Bellu
Cemetery.
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, now Republic of Moldova – January 9, 1998 in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
) was a Romania
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 discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
er who won three Olympic medals, including one gold. She was the first Track & Field
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...
athlete to compete at six Olympics.
Lia started her Olympic career at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, where she finished 6th with a throw of 42.64m.
She bettered this distance at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, Australia, throwing 43.90m for a ninth place finish. At the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, she held the lead after the first round with a throw of 52.36m, and although she was unable to improve upon this in subsequent rounds, the throw was sufficient to earn her the bronze medal. At the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Manoliu was lying in fourth place after round four, but she produced a throw of 56.96m on her fifth attempt to gain her second Olympic bronze medal.
In the winter of 1967–68, the Romanian Athletics Federation informed the 35 year-old Manoliu that she was too old to try for the Olympics again and that she need not bother turning out for their training camp sessions. This only served to increase Manoliu's determination, and after months of hard and lonely training, she qualified for the Romanian team to the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. In Mexico, she carried an injury to her throwing arm sustained in a shot-putting accident into the competition, and the team doctor warned her that it was good for only one good throw. One throw was all Manoliu needed, registering a distance of 58.28m on her first attempt, which proved good enough for the gold medal.
On 19 July 1969, Manoliu won the UK national WAAA discus title at the Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
, and in 1972, in her final year of competition, she finished 9th in the discus final at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
In 1972, she was awarded the UNESCO Fair Play Prize, for her support to the ideals of fair and loyal competition.
Manoliu competed at her sixth Olympics in 1972, coming ninth in the Final. Ironically, her throw of 58.50m was longer than the 58.28m that had won her Gold four years earlier. In any case, it would be another 24 years until another Track & Field
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...
athlete would compete at six Olympics – javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson
Tessa Sanderson
Theresa Ione Sanderson CBE is a former British javelin thrower and heptathlete who competed in the javelin competition in every one of the six Olympics from 1976–1996 winning the Gold medal in 1984...
in 1996. (Sprinter Merlene Ottey
Merlene Ottey
Merlene Joyce Ottey , is a Jamaican-born Slovenian track athlete. Ottey began her career representing Jamaica, but since 2002, has represented Slovenia, where she now resides...
would compete in her sixth Olympics in 2000 and her seventh in 2004.)
Between 1990 and her death she served as President of the Romanian Olympic Committee.
She was a member of the Romanian Senate
Senate of Romania
The Senate of Romania is the upper house in the bicameral Parliament of Romania. It has 137 seats , to which members are elected by direct popular vote, using Mixed member proportional representation in 42 electoral districts , to serve four-year terms.-Former location:After the Romanian...
in the 1992–1996 legislature.
She died of a heart attack in January 1998 after lapsing into a coma during surgery for a brain tumor the week before. She was buried at Bellu
Bellu
Bellu is the most famous cemetery in Bucharest, Romania.It is located on a plot of land donated to the local administration by Baron Barbu Bellu...
Cemetery.