Iolanda Balaș facts for kids
Iolanda Balaș during the 1960s
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 12 December 1936 Timișoara, Romania |
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| Died | 11 March 2016 (aged 79) Bucharest, Romania |
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| Height | 1.85 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 72 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | High jump | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 1.91 m (1961) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Iolanda Balaș (born December 12, 1936 – died March 11, 2016) was a famous Romanian athlete. She was an Olympic champion and held the world record in the high jump. Iolanda was the first Romanian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Many people believe she was one of the greatest high jumpers of the 20th century.
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Early Life and Family
Iolanda Balaș was born in Timișoara, Romania. Her family had Hungarian roots. Her mother, Etel Bozó, was a homemaker. Her father, Frigyes, worked as a locksmith.
Her father served in the Hungarian army. He was captured and later returned to Hungary, settling in Budapest. Iolanda wanted to reunite her family and move to Hungary. She even got a Hungarian passport in 1947. However, she was not allowed to leave Romania.
In an interview, Iolanda said she thought about moving away. But she didn't want to risk trouble for her relatives. She said, "I wish I could have won Olympics for Hungary. But a person represents herself and then a nation. I couldn't wear the Hungarian colors. I couldn't make those who speak my language happy. It happened this way, and I'm sorry. But I would have gone crazy thinking about this situation. I hope Romanians and Hungarians are proud of me."
Amazing Athletics Career
Iolanda Balaș started athletics because of her caretaker, Luisa Ernst. Luisa was a retired high jumper herself. In 1953, Iolanda joined the CCA (CSA Steaua) club in Timișoara.
She finished fifth at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Then, she won gold medals at the Rome Olympics in 1960 and the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. She was the first Romanian woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
At the 1964 Olympics, Iolanda competed even though she had a torn tendon. This injury later made her stop competing in the 1966 European Championships. Still, between 1957 and 1966, Iolanda Balaș won 154 competitions in a row! This amazing streak does not even include practice or exhibition events.
She broke the world record 14 times. She improved it from 1.75 meters to 1.91 meters. She also matched her own record twice. Iolanda was the first woman to jump over six feet high. She used a special way of jumping called the scissors technique.
Her record of 1.91 meters, set in 1961, lasted for a very long time. It was finally broken at the end of 1971 by Ilona Gusenbauer from Austria. After that, jumpers started using newer, more effective techniques. These included the straddle technique and later the Fosbury Flop.
After she stopped competing in 1967, Iolanda Balaș married her coach, Ioan Söter. She then taught physical education in Bucharest. From 1988 to 2005, she was the president of the Romanian Athletics Federation. She also worked with the European Athletics Association and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Later Life and Death
Iolanda Balaș had type II diabetes for several years before she passed away. She was in the hospital many times because of her health. She died in Bucharest, Romania, at age 79, due to health problems. She is buried in Ghencea Cemetery in Bucharest.
Awards and Recognition
Iolanda Balaș received many honors for her achievements. She was named an honorary citizen of Timișoara in 1999 and of Bucharest in 2001.
In 2010, she received the "Nihil Sine Deo" royal award. This was for her special contributions to Romanian sports. It recognized how she led the Romanian Athletics Federation and promoted young Romanian athletes.
In 2000, Track & Field News magazine voted Iolanda Balaș the best female high jumper of the 20th century. In 2012, she was added to the IAAF Hall of Fame.
See also
- Women's high jump world record progression
- In Spanish: Iolanda Balas para niños
