Mihaela Dascalu
Encyclopedia
Mihaela Dascălu is a retired Romania
n speed skater, and the most successful speed skater from that country.
Dascălu was born in the city of Braşov
, and first trained as a figure skater before changing to speed skating. She debuted at the 1987 World Junior Championships
, where she finished seventh. The following year she finished ninth, but was later disqualified along with her team mate Cerasela Hordobetiu, making it impossible for her to make the 1988 Winter Olympics
at Calgary.
She returned to the international scene in 1991, and finished sixth in the 1000 meter during the 1992 Winter Olympics
, the best Romanian Olympic speed skating finish of all time. In the 1994 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
in Butte, Montana
she won a bronze medal
. In the 1994 Winter Olympics
she finished eighth in two events
, the 1500 meter and the 3000 meter.
She continued to compete through the 1990s, with numerous top ten finishes, such as a seventh place finish in the Women's European Championships
in 1996, and sixth the following year in the same competition. She finished third in 3000 meter at the 6th World Cup
1995-1996 and the World Cup Final 1995-1996, with her also finishing third in the latter in the 1500 meter. She had second place finishes in the 3000 meter during the 9th World Cup 1995-1996 and the World Cup Final 1996-1997. She also finished second in 1000 meter during the 7th World Cup 1995-1996, as well as second in the 1500 meter during the 7th World Cup 1996-1997. At the 4th World Cup 1996-1997 she finished third in the 5000 meter, followed by a first place finish the following year in that same event during the 7th World Cup 1996-1997. She retired after the 1998 season, on the heels of her worst finish during the 1998 Winter Olympics
, where she finished thirty fourth.
Following her retirement she entered into private business in Braşov, where she lives today.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n speed skater, and the most successful speed skater from that country.
Dascălu was born in the city of Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
, and first trained as a figure skater before changing to speed skating. She debuted at the 1987 World Junior Championships
World Junior Speed Skating Championships
||valign=top width=50%|In 1971, when the ISU had a congress they decided to hold a World Junior Speed Skating Championships. After 2 test-championships , where only boys where allowed to skate, the first official championship was introduced in Cortina d'Ampezzo. In this championship boys and girls...
, where she finished seventh. The following year she finished ninth, but was later disqualified along with her team mate Cerasela Hordobetiu, making it impossible for her to make the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
at Calgary.
She returned to the international scene in 1991, and finished sixth in the 1000 meter during the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
, the best Romanian Olympic speed skating finish of all time. In the 1994 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1936. Unofficial Championships were held in the years 1933-1935.-Distances used:...
in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
she won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
. In the 1994 Winter Olympics
Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Speed Skating results.-500 m:Monday February 14, 1994 — 40 competitors from 16 countries-1,000 m:Friday February 18, 1994 — 43 competitors from 17 countries-1,500 m:...
she finished eighth in two events
Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Speed Skating results.-500 m:Monday February 14, 1994 — 40 competitors from 16 countries-1,000 m:Friday February 18, 1994 — 43 competitors from 17 countries-1,500 m:...
, the 1500 meter and the 3000 meter.
She continued to compete through the 1990s, with numerous top ten finishes, such as a seventh place finish in the Women's European Championships
European Speed Skating Championships for Women
The International Skating Union has organised the European Speed Skating Championships for Women since 1970, but they were discontinued after the 1974 tournament because of lack of interest...
in 1996, and sixth the following year in the same competition. She finished third in 3000 meter at the 6th World Cup
Speed Skating World Cup
The Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held...
1995-1996 and the World Cup Final 1995-1996, with her also finishing third in the latter in the 1500 meter. She had second place finishes in the 3000 meter during the 9th World Cup 1995-1996 and the World Cup Final 1996-1997. She also finished second in 1000 meter during the 7th World Cup 1995-1996, as well as second in the 1500 meter during the 7th World Cup 1996-1997. At the 4th World Cup 1996-1997 she finished third in the 5000 meter, followed by a first place finish the following year in that same event during the 7th World Cup 1996-1997. She retired after the 1998 season, on the heels of her worst finish during the 1998 Winter Olympics
Romania at the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Biathlon:MenWomen1A penalty loop of 150 metres had to be skied per missed target. 2One minute added per missed target.- Bobsleigh:- Cross-country skiing:Men1 Starting delay based om 10 km results. C = Classical style, F = Freestyle...
, where she finished thirty fourth.
Following her retirement she entered into private business in Braşov, where she lives today.
External links
- International Allround Champions, Womens Speed Skating from the International Skating UnionInternational Skating UnionThe International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
- Mihaela Dascalu from skateresults.com
- Womens Speed Skating Allround Champions from staff.science.uva.nl/~jellekok