Lilia NURUTDINOVA

Middle-distance runner Liliya Nurutdinova had a very brief international career. After being selected for the Soviet national team in 1988, Nurudtinova first competed internationally at the 1990 Goodwill Games, where she won an 800 silver. A month later she won the 800 bronze at the 1990 European Championships. Nurutdinova won the 1991 World Championships in the 800 and went to the 1992 Olympics as the 800 favorite. In the Olympic final, Nurudtinova led for 600 metres, but Ellen van Langen moved thru on the inside of the stretch and won the gold, pushing Nurudtinova back to second place. At the Olympics, Nurutdinova won a gold in the 4x400 after running in the heats. She also competed at the 1993 World Championships, initially finishing seventh in the 800, but was disqualified for a positive doping test for stanozolol, which brought her a four-year ban and effectively ended her career. Nurudtinova won Russian 400 and 1,500 titles in 1992.

Personal Bests: 400 – 51.34 (1992); 800 – 1:55.99 (1992).