Gymn Forum: Ecaterina Szabo Biography

Ecaterina Szabo (ROM)

1984 Olympic V, B and FX Champion

"I was 7 years old when I learned the back somi on beam."

Szabo poses with former teammates Maria Olaru, Daniela
Silivas and Lavinia Agache, and coach Adrian Goreac.

Medal Total

Olympic Games: 4 Gold, 1 Silver
World Championships: 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze
World Cup: 1 Bronze
European Championships: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze

Ecaterina was born on January 22, 1966 in Zagon. Her first language is Hungarian; she learned to speak Romanian only after she started going to gymnastics lessons. Her first coaches were Marta and Bela Karolyi. Later in her career, Kati was coached by Adrian Goreac, Adrian Stan and Maria Cosma at the famous Cetate Deva school. A fall from uneven bars during team optionals at the 1984 Olympics prevented her from winning the overall title, but she came back in event finals to win 3 gold medals.

Competition Results

1978
ROM Championships (category IV): 6th AA

1980
Chunichi Cup: 17th AA, 1st B
Jr. European Championships: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st B, 1st FX, 4th UB ROM-GBR Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA ROM-SUI Dual Meet: 1st Team, 6th AA Tokyo Cup: 2nd UB
1981
Daciada: 3rd AA International Championships of Romania: 3rd V
Intl. Junior Championships (Tokyo): 3rd AA, 1st FX, 2nd V, 2nd UB Intl. Junior Championships (Sapporo): 1st V
1982
Balkan Championships: 1st Team, 2nd AA, 2nd B
Ennia Gold Cup: 1st AA, 1st FX, 2nd UB, 4th V
International Championships of Romania: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 2nd B
Jr. European Championships: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st FX, 2nd UB, 4th B
1983
Catania Cup: 2nd AA City of Popes Jr. International: 1st AA
European Championships: 3rd AA, 1st UB, 1st FX, 2nd V
ESP-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA FRG-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
GBR-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 2nd AA
Gymnastics Hit Parade of Rome: 1st B, 1st FX
HOL-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
International Championships of Romania: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st B, 1st FX, 2nd V
ROM Championships: 2nd AA
World Championships: 2nd Team, 3rd AA, 1st FX, 2nd V, 2nd UB
1984
Balkan Championships: 1st Team, 1st AA, 1st V, 1st UB
Chunichi Cup: 1st AA, 3rd B, 3rd FX ESP-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA Golden Sands International: 1st AA,1st FX
International Championships of Romania: 2nd AA, 1st V, 1st B, 1st FX
Olympic Games: 1st Team, 2nd AA, 1st V, 1st B, 1st FX
ROM Championships: 1st AA ROM-TCH Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
Tokyo Cup: 1st B, 2nd FX
1985
Balkan Championships: 1st Team, 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st B, 1st FX, 2nd V
DTB Cup: 2nd AA, 1st V, 2nd UB, 3rd FX, 4th B
ESP-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
European Championships: 5th AA, 2nd V,6th B, 6th FX
FRA-ROM-SUI Tri-Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
Gander Memorial: 1st AA
HOL-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
International Championships of Romania: 1st AA ROM Championships: 1st AA, 1st UB, 1st FX
ROM-TCH Dual Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA
SUI-ROM-FRG Meet: 1st Team, 1st AA Swiss Cup: 2nd AA
University Games: 2nd Team, 2nd AA, 1st V, 1st B, 2nd UB, 2nd FX
World Championships: 2nd Team, 5th AA, 2nd B, 4th FX, 6th UB
1986
Balkan Championships: 1st Team, 1st AA, 1st V, 2nd UB
DTB Cup: 2nd AA, 2nd FX
ESP-ROM-BUL Tri-Meet: 1st Team, 3rd AA Gander Memorial: 1st AA ROM Championships: 1st AA, 1st V, 1st FX, 2nd UB
ROM-TCH Dual Meet: 1st Team, 3rd AA
World Cup: 4th AA, 3rd V, 4th B, 5th UB
1987
Madrid Grand Prix: 1st V, 1st B, 1st FX, 2nd UB
SUI-ROM Dual Meet: 1st Team, 4th AA
University Games: 2nd Team, 5th AA, 2nd V, 2nd B
World Championships: 1st Team, 14th AA, 3rd B