Sporting icons : Sara Simeoni – The Graceful Queen of High Jump - Career HLs , video

 



Sara Simeoni was born on April 19, 1953, in Rivoli Veronese, Italy. Known for her elegant and powerful high jumping style, Simeoni was one of the finest athletes of her generation. She mastered the Fosbury Flop technique, which allowed her to combine flexibility, timing, and explosiveness to great effect. Her calm demeanor and remarkable consistency made her a dominant force in women's high jump throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

Career Highlights in Detail:
Sara Simeoni was Italy's premier track and field athlete for over a decade. She broke onto the international stage in the early 1970s and quickly established herself with her exceptional jumping ability. One of her most remarkable feats came in 1978, when she broke the world record with a leap of 2.01 meters, becoming the first Italian woman to set an athletics world record in the modern era. She remained a formidable presence in major competitions and played a pioneering role in popularizing women's athletics in Italy.

Olympics Medals:

  • Gold Medal – 1980 Moscow Olympics (High Jump)
  • Silver Medal – 1976 Montreal Olympics (High Jump)
  • Silver Medal – 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (High Jump)

Simeoni remains one of only a few athletes to have won Olympic medals in three different Games in the same event.

World Championships Medals:
Although Simeoni's peak years came just before the establishment of the IAAF World Championships (first held in 1983), she did compete in the inaugural edition, finishing 4th in Helsinki.

World Records:

  • Set the women’s high jump world record in 1978 at 2.01 meters, a record that stood until 1983.
  • First woman to clear 2.01m using the Fosbury Flop technique.

Legacy:
Sara Simeoni is hailed as one of the greatest female high jumpers of all time and a national icon in Italy. Her Olympic gold in Moscow remains one of Italy’s most cherished athletics victories. She was not only a trailblazer in women's sports but also an ambassador for Italian athletics globally. Post-retirement, Simeoni has continued to contribute to sport through coaching and mentoring young athletes. Her legacy is one of grace, resilience, and inspiration—a true pioneer in high jump history.

Watch Sara Simeoni 's gold winning jump in the Moscow Olympics 1980

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