Gabriela Szabo (, ; born 14 November 1975) is a retired Romanian runner. She competed in the 1500 m and 5000 m events at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Szabo is a three-time world champion. Throughout her entire career she was coached by Zsolt Gyöngyössy, whom she eventually married. In May 2005 she retired from competitions due to exhaustion. She held the European record in the 3000 m between 2002–2019. Early life Szabo was born to a Romanian mother and a Hungarian father. As a child, Szabo used to speak Hungarian with her friends, but she can only understand a few words today, which she regrets. Post-sport career As of 19 August 2013 she held the honorific title of Romanian Tourism Ambassador, together with 7 other cultural and sport personalities of Romania. On 5 March 2014, she was appointed Minister of Youth and Sport in the Victor Ponta social-democratic government. She held the position until 17 November 2015. Competition record Personal bests Outdoor (track) 1500 metres - 3:56.97 (1998) One mile - 4:19.30 (1998) 3000 metres - 8:21.42 (2002) 5000 metres - 14:31.48 (1998) Indoor 1500 metres - 4:03.23 (1999) One mile - 4:23.19 (2001) 2000 metres - 5:30.53 (1998) 3000 metres - 8:32.88 (2001) 5000 metres - 14:47.35 (1999) 2001 Accident Szabo is remembered for a collision with German long-jumper Kofi Amoah Prah during an indoor meeting at Stuttgart in 2001. Szabo was leaving the track after her competition had finished while Amoah was running for his attempt. Szabo walked into Amoah's path and they collided heavily. References External links Official website of Gabi Szabo 1975 births Living people Romanian female middle-distance runners Romanian female long-distance runners Olympic athletes of Romania Olympic gold medalists for Romania Olympic silver medalists for Romania Olympic bronze medalists for Romania Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Bistrița Romanian sportspeople of Hungarian descent World Athletics Championships medalists European Athletics Championships medalists Romanian sportsperson-politicians Romanian Ministers of Regional Development Social Democratic Party (Romania) politicians Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field) Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) IAAF Golden League winners