article by Nicola Pucci
When we mention the name Tatyana Samolenko-Dorovskich, we are undoubtedly talking about a world-class middle-distance runner from the turn of the nineties.. Capable of winning practically everything, even if…
Actually born Khomitova (she acquired the surnames Samolenko and Dorovskich by virtue of her first two marriages, which were formalized when she was still active), becomes a specialist in the 1500 and 3000 metersdistances over which he competes in all the major events in which he participates, starting with European Championships in Stuttgart 1986, where he won silver in the 1500 meters in 4’02″36 behind his compatriot Ravilya Agletdinovaand then came fifth on the double distance, where the other Soviet Olga Bondarenko prevailed.
The following year, 1987, was the year of definitive consecration for the then Samolenkowhich begins the season putting the gold medal around her neck in the 3000 meters in 8’46″52 at the Indoor World Championships in Indianapolis, a world championship event in which she came second in the 1500 meters behind the Romanian Doina Melinteand then realize a fantastic pairing on the occasion of the World Championships in Rome where she first beats the other great Romanian middle distance runner Maricica Puica to the 3000 meter finish line with a time of 8’38″73, and therefore she also takes the 1500 meter race as hers by beating the German Hildegard Korner in the sprint (3’58″56 to 3’58″67)with Melinte completing the podium.
Consider the logic favored over both distances at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Samolenko confirmed her prediction for the 3000 metres, winning the race in 8’26″53 ahead of yet another Romanian Paula Ivan, but was surprised by the same opponent in the 1500 metres.author of an attacking race that allowed her to anticipate the rest of the finalists, with the Soviet also preceded to the finish line by her compatriot Laima Baikauskaite.
The opportunity for redemption presents itself to the Soviet middle-distance runner – in the meantime divorced and remarried in Dorovskich – at the following Tokyo World Championships in 1991, an event in which she confirmed her gold from four years earlier in Rome in the 3000 meters by beating her compatriot Elena Romanova in the sprint (8’35″82 to 8’36″06), but having to give up on the shorter distance to the emerging Algerian Hassiba Boulmerkawho won in 4’02″21 compared to Tatyana’s 4’02″58.
La Dorovskich she concluded her career the following year at the 1992 Barcelona Games, where Romanova tied her in the 3000 metres, overtaking her in the sprint (8’46″04 to 8’46″85) for what is his tenth and last medal in a major event, coming close to an eleventh in his farewell to the 1500m, where he has to settle for remaining on the fringes of the podium in the race that crowns the Algerian Boulmerka as the dominator of the specialty.
A shadow on Samolenko-Dorovskich’s extraordinary career – which has never set any world record for the distances it has attempted – comes when tested positive in an anti-doping test in June 1993, although none of the medals previously won were taken away from her. And by virtue of the crime, some clouds are gathering over his extraordinary sequence of triumphs…
2024-02-29 16:06:00
#TATYANA #SAMOLENKODOROVSKICH #QUEEN #MIDDLEDURANCE #SHADOWS #SportHistoria
