Szabo To Defend 5000m Title

MEDIA RELEASE


Romania's Gabriela Szabo has decided to compete in the women's 5000m here
in Edmonton. The two time world champion had originally declared her
intention to boycott the event if the IAAF allowed Olga Yegorova to
compete here despite the Russian's positive test for EPO.

The threat to boycott was, understandably, an emotional response to a very
controversial topic. Since then she has thought things through more
clearly.

"Yesterday I met with my coach and my manager after the 1500m race and we
have decided that it is better to run the 5000m," she said this morning,

"I am going to run for all my fans. Many people have encouraged me to run.
People on the streets talk with me and say 'please run in the 5000m.' I
would have taken the same decision if I was not the winner in the 1500m."

All eyes turned on Szabo when the IAAF's medical  commissioner Professor
Arne Ljungqvist announced, at a hastily called news conference August 4th,
that the test on Yegorova should not have been conducted by French
authorities. Throughout the week Szabo has maintained her silence
preferring to focus completely on the 1500m event. Her initial reaction,
according to her manager, Jos Hermens, was one of disbelief.

On Tuesday night Szabo proved the consummate tactician when she beat
fellow Romanian Violeta Szekely to win the 1500m gold medal in 4:00.57 her
fastest
time of the season.

"I ate dinner late last night and after that I came back to sleep but I
didn't sleep so well," she said, "I was very excited about the 1500m. It
was a nice race but I haven't seen it on television yet."

"It is a very emotional decision for me. I wanted to let people know that
I was never afraid of the Russian. The Russian athlete (Yegorova) ran faster
than me in Rome and I went back to training to improve my finish. In Paris
I had the flu and in Oslo was not completely recovered. Of course this is
not an excuse, Now I want to run to prove I am not afraid of the Russian
runner."

With a few days to digest the IAAF's reversal of Yegorova's suspension
Szabo has come to terms with it and will line up for tomorrow's 5000m
heats brimming with confidence.

"Of course I am not angry (at the IAAF decision to reinstate Yegorova).
Why would I be?" she explains, "Because if I do not compete in the 5000m in
few months the people will forget what happened and will only remember the
winner. I am not angry if Yegorova competes now because I respect the IAAF
rules. I have to respect the governing body."

News Team pg