Violeta Szekely, née Beclea (born 26 March 1965, in Dolheștii Mari, Suceava County)[1] is a Romanian former middle distance runner who competed mainly in the 1500 metres. She competed in two Olympic Games, in 1992 and 2000.
She was favored to win the 2000 Summer Olympics 1500 metres after a stellar season, but getting boxed in around the final curb would cost her the gold medal. She only got out about 80 metres from the end and while she made up considerable ground was unable to catch the ground lost while trapped inside to surprise winner Nouria Merah-Benida. She was also favored to win the 2001 World 1500 metre title after dominating the Golden League series, but was beaten out by bitter rival and teammate Gabriela Szabo. She did however win a share of the golden league jackspot, by winning all of her Golden league 1500 metre races this season.
Szekely retired after the 2002 season.
Beclea tested positive for steroids in February 1995 and was subsequently handed a four-year ban from sports.[2] She also lost the fourth place from the 1500 m at the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
| Representing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | European Championships | Stuttgart, West Germany | 16th (sf) | 800m | 2:08.25 |
| 1990 | European Championships | Split, Yugoslavia | 12th | 1500m | 4:16.45 |
| 1991 | World Indoor Championships | Sevilla, Spain | 2nd | 800m | 2:01.75 |
| 1993 | World Indoor Championships | Toronto, Canada | 2nd | 1500m | 4:09.41 |
| 1994 | European Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 24th (h) | 1500m | 4:20.43 |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships | Maebashi, Japan | 2nd | 1500m | 4:03.53 |
| IAAF Grand Prix Final | München, Germany | 1st | 1500m | 4:15.18 | |
| 2000 | Summer Olympics | Sydney, Australia | 2nd | 1500m | 4:05.15 |
| IAAF Grand Prix Final | Doha, UAE | 1st | 1500m | 4:15.63 | |
| 2001 | World Indoor Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 2nd | 1500m | 4:11.17 |
| World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 2nd | 1500m | 4:01.70 | |
Other achievements: