Romanian sport legend Iolanda Balas-Soter celebrates 78th anniversary

Romanian athletics legend, high jump Olympic champion Iolanda Balas-Soter celebrates her 78th anniversary on Friday.

The only Romanian athlete who was two times Olympic champion celebrated her birthday while having an active life, namely president of the Romanian Athletics Foundation and honorary president of the Romanian Athletics Federation

Born in Timisoara (western Romania) on Dec. 12, 1936, Balas-Soter, the one who opens the Hall of Fame of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), was an Olympic champion in Rome in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964, making history by setting as many as 14 world records.

She was three times an European champion and record-holder on 100 stadiums from all over the world (the one in Rio de Janeiro is still standing) and is arguably more than a great athlete, she is a great supporter of this field with all the force, aptness, civility and charm she possesses. Balas-Soter was a president of the Romanian Athletics Federation from 1988 — 2005, from which position she backed many athletes to take the difficult step from the sports to the 'civil' activity, with some becoming ministers, federation chairs and, in turn, representing a life model.

AGERPRES