Svetlana Masterkova

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Medal record
Image:Replace this image female.svg Svetlana Masterkova
Women's Athletics
Competitor for Image:Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Olympic Games
Gold	1996 Atlanta	800 m
Gold	1996 Atlanta	1500 m
World Championships
Gold	1999 Seville	1500 m
Bronze	1999 Seville	800 m

Svetlana Alexandrovna Masterkova (born January 17, 1968) is a Russian former middle distance runner. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in both the 800 and 1,500 metres.

Born in Achinsk (Siberia), Masterkova started out as an 800 meter runner. Her breakthrough came in 1991, winning the national championships of the Soviet Union, which also qualified her for the World Championships. In Tokyo, she placed eighth in the final. During the following seasons, she had some minor successes (silver at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics in 1993), but also suffered from injuries. In 1994 and 1995, she took a break from running, giving birth to a daughter (Anastasia).

In 1996, she returned to athletics. Instead of only running the 800 meter, Masterkova also decided to compete in the 1500 metres, a distance she hadn't competed in for years. At the Russian Championships, she won both distances in top times. However, she wasn't considered as a real favourite for the 800m Olympic gold; Maria Mutola and Ana Fidelia Quirot were expected to fight for the title in Atlanta. But Masterkova took the lead from the start, and led the entire race to become Olympic champion. After this surprise, Masterkova caused a major upset by also winning the 1500 m in a similar fashion, thereby equalling Tatyana Kazankina's performance at the 1976 Olympics (Kelly Holmes would repeat the performance in 2004). She completed her season by also setting two new world records, be it in two irregular distances (1000 metres, mile).

Masterkova couldn't repeat her feat at the World Championships the next year, as an achilles tendon injury caused her to drop out in the heats of the 1500 metres. Her 1998 season was great again, crowned by a win in the 1500 m at the European Championships. At the 1999 World championships, Masterkova again contested both middle distance events. She was beaten in the 800 m by Ludmila Formanova and placed third, but comprehensively won the 1500 metres title. This would be her last major success. Although Masterkova participated in the Sydney Olympics, she abandoned her 1500 metres heat, retiring at the end of the season.

Masterkova currently holds the women's record for the mile, at 4:12.56.

[edit] External links

• IAAF profile for Svetlana Masterkova
• IAAF statistics

Records
Preceded by ?	Women's Mile World Record Holder August 14, 1996 –	Succeeded by Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Sonia O'Sullivan	Women's European Athlete of the Year 1996	Succeeded by Image:Flag of Germany.svg Astrid Kumbernuss
Sporting positions
Preceded by Image:Flag of East Germany.svg Sigrun Wodars	Women's 800m Best Year Performance 1991	Succeeded by Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ellen van Langen
Preceded by Image:Flag of Mozambique.svg Maria Mutola	Women's 800m Best Year Performance 1996	Succeeded by Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Ana Fidelia Quirot
Preceded by Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Sonia O'Sullivan	Women's 1.500m Best Year Performance 1996	Succeeded by Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiang Bo
Preceded by Image:Flag of Mozambique.svg Maria Mutola	Women's 800m Best Year Performance 1999	Succeeded by Image:Flag of Mozambique.svg Maria Mutola

v • d • e Olympic champions in women's 800 m
1928: Lina Radke • 1960: Lyudmila Shevtsova • 1964: Ann Packer • 1968: Madeline Manning • 1972: Hildegard Falck • 1976: Tatyana Kazankina • 1980: Nadezhda Olizarenko • 1984: Doina Melinte • 1988: Sigrun Wodars • 1992: Ellen van Langen • 1996: Svetlana Masterkova • 2000: Maria Mutola • 2004: Kelly Holmes

v • d • e Olympic champions in women's 1500 m
1972: Lyudmila Bragina • 1976: Tatyana Kazankina • 1980: Tatyana Kazankina • 1984: Gabriella Dorio • 1988: Paula Ivan • 1992: Hassiba Boulmerka • 1996: Svetlana Masterkova • 2000: Nouria Mérah-Benida • 2004: Kelly Holmes

de:Swetlana Alexandrowna Masterkowa

et:Svetlana Masterkova es:Svetlana Masterkova fr:Svetlana Masterkova nl:Svetlana Masterkova ja:スベトラーナ・マステルコワ no:Svetlana Masterkova pl:Swietłana Mastierkowa ru:Мастеркова, Светлана Александровна fi:Svetlana Masterkova sv:Svetlana Masterkova tr:Svetlana Masterkova