| Tatyana Samolenko built a reputation as a fearsome middle-distance
competitor in the late 1980's, employing a devastatingly fast finish to
achieve a number of significant victories. In her early career, Tatyana
made solid progress competing under her maiden name of Khamitova, but
it was not until 1986, competing under her married name of Samolenko,
that she made her big breakthrough, winning the Soviet national 1500m
title at Kiev in a new personal best of 3min 59.45sec. This made
Samolenko one of the favourites for the 1500m crown at the following
monthís European Championships in Stuttgart. However, she was also a
definite medal chance in the 3000m, as she had recorded a personal best
of 8min 36.00sec when victorious at a dual meet between the Soviet Union
and East Germany on 22 June, and only her teammate Olga Bondarenko and
Zola Budd (representing the United Kingdom) had recorded faster times
that year amongst the athletes contesting the 3000m final at Stuttgart,
held on 28 August. Budd (see photo above, No. 283) set a fast pace in
the Stuttgart final, and led until just before the bell, when Bondarenko
(No.823) cruised past her and went on to win the gold medal. On this
occasion, Samolenko (No. 852) was not able to produce the devastating
kick that would become her trademark, but still managed to finish a
creditable fifth. The final of her more favoured event, the 1500m, was
held three days later on 31 August. Again, Zola Budd set the pace until
just after the bell, when Samolenko and teammate Ravilya Agletdinova
swept past her and started an all-out sprint for home. Although
Samolenko produced a quick 60.1sec final lap, she could not match the
58.9sec lap of Agletdinova, who won the gold medal while Tatyana claimed
the silver. (Ron Casey) |
| |
|
Women's 1500m. Final
European Athletics Championships 1986
|
| |
| 1. Raviya ANGLETDINOVA |
|
URS |
|
4.01.19 |
| 2. Tatyana SAMOLENKO |
|
URS |
|
4.02.36 |
| 3. Doina MELINTE |
|
ROM |
|
4.02.44 |
| 4. Ivana WALTEROVA |
|
CZE |
|
4.03.09 |
| 5. Maricica PUICA |
|
ROM |
|
4.03.90 |
| 6. Svetlana KITOVA |
|
URS |
|
4.04.74 |
| |