Dita admires Maricica Puica

Constantina Dita, the Olympic Marathon champion, caught upwith spikesmag.com to chat about her admiration for her Romanian countrywoman Maricica Puica, the 1984 Olympic 3000m champion.

“It is amazing to think when a young kid I really looked upto Maricica Puica and now kids are looking up to me, as an Olympic champion, inthe same way.

I hope I am an inspiration for the next generation of youngkids and I am glad I am an inspiration.

I remember very clearly the 1984 Olympic 3000m final. Iwatched her on TV in the stadium, in the lead group, and then I saw her pullingaway from the group. For me it was amazing, that race in LA. I then rememberseeing her in many races in the Grand Prix.

I never saw her compete because I came from the communistera and people just did not travel from outside Bucharest to watch an athleticsevent. I also did not have posters of her on the wall. It was a very differenttime then in Romania.

I first saw her when I was 28 years old at a training camp,although I didn’t say anything to her because I was so shy.

Now I have met her but only to say hello - that’s all. Lasttime it was last year before London (Marathon) I saw her in Bucharest when wemet at the hotel when I was trying on my kit for the Olympic Games.

I think she is happy to hear about my success. If I met herI would say now I’m like you (an Olympic champion). I am very glad to have beeninspired by her.”

***Maricica Puica won the Olympic 3000m final in the famousrace in which US star Mary Slaney tumbled to the ground and crashed out of therace after clipping the heels of Great Britain’s Zola Budd

If you enjoyed this spikesmag.com feature then you might like one of these: