Mihaela DASCALU

Mihaela Dascălu, born in the winter sports town of Braşov, is the most succesful Romanian skater of all time, winning the bronze medal at the 1994 World Allround Championships of in Butte, Montana. Dascălu, who first also practiced figure skating, débuted at the 1987 World Junior Championships, finishing seventh. The following year she placed ninth, but she was later disqualified for doping use, together with her team mate Cerasela Hordobeţiu, which eliminated her from the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Dascălu returned to the international scene in 1991, taking part in all Olympic events in Albertville in 1992, where she finished 6th in the 1,000 m; the best Romanian Olympic skating performance ever. The following years she scored many international top 10 classifications, with the World bronze medal in 1994 as the highlight – although it was in the absence of some top skaters preparing for the Olympics. At the Lillehammer Olympics she placed eighth in two events, the 1,500 m and 3,000 m. She continued to achieve good performances, with the exception of her final season, when she took part in her third Olympics in Nagano. She placed no better than 24th (3,000 m) and 34th (1,500 m), but did carry the Romanian flag at the opening ceremony. In her many World Cup starts, Dascălu earned a podium on one occasion, ranking third in the 1994 1,500 m in Innsbruck.

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.65 (1994); 1000 – 1:19.97 (1994); 1500 – 2:04.02 (1994); 3000 – 4:21.83 (1998); 5000 – 7:30.04 (1996).