Liliya Nurutdinova


Liliya Foatovna Nurutdinova is a retired middle-distance runner who represented the Soviet Union and the Unified Team.
Her greatest achievement was the 1992 Olympic silver medal when she ran the 800 m in 1:55.99 min, her personal best time. She looked to have the race won, but, tiring, she moved away from the curb on the stretch, and was passed on the inside by gold medalist Ellen van Langen 50 metres from the finish line. She is also the 1991 World 800-metre champion where she held off Ana Quirot, Ella Kovacs, and Maria Mutola in a finish which saw Kovacs fall, the women jammed together, and the top four separated by less than two-tenths of a second. She was born in Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Doping ban

At the 1993 World Championships in Athletics Nurutdinova tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, and she was subsequently disqualified and handed a 4-year ban from sport. She retired from the sport immediately after.

Achievements