Gulnara Samitova

Who is Gulnara Samitova?

Gulnara Iskanderovna Samitova-Galkina is a Russian middle-distance runner. In July 2004 she ran 3000 metres steeplechase in a new world record of 9:01.59. Early that year she won a bronze medal over 1500 metres at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Gulnara Samitova-Galkina is of mixed Tatar and Russian origin. She is a two-time national champion in the women's 5000 metres.

Samitova claimed the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase, breaking her own world record in the final with a time of 8:58.81 min, becoming the first woman in history to run under 9 minutes for the steeplechase.

She won both the 800 and 1500 metres races at the Russian Team Championships in June 2009, clocking a personal best of 2:00.29 in the 800 m and a world leading time over 1500 m.

She missed the whole 2010 season, including the 2010 European Athletics Championships, after becoming pregnant and giving birth to her daughter Alina in June. She returned to training in the autumn of 2010.