Zulia Calatayud
Encyclopedia
Zulia Inés Calatayud Torres (born November 9, 1979 in Havana
) is a Cuba
n runner competing mostly in the 800 metres
event.
In 2002, Calatayud became the 30th-fastest woman ever in her event, running 1:56.09 at the Herculis Golden League meeting, in Monaco. It was to be her last competition for 19 months, as dual shin injuries kept the 22-year-old from even being able to train. She made a successful retun to competition, not only qualifying for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, but making her second consecutive Olympics final, finishing eighth.
, in Helsinki. She ran a season’s best 1:57.92 in her semi-final, her second fastest ever, and In the final matched every move made by Mutola and world leader, Tatyana Andrianova. In 1:58.82, Zulia Calatayud had become a World Champion. She ended the 2005 season with a convincing victory at the World Athletics Final in Monaco. The winning streak landed her atop the IAAF World Rankings, replacing Mutola who had led since the rankings were introduced in 2001.
For the 2006 season, Calatayud picked up where she left off a few months prior. She clocked her second fastest time ever (1:56.91) when placing third at the Athletissima meeting, in Lausanne, in July. She claimed the 800m crown at the 20th Central American and Caribbean Games, in Cartagena, Colombia, but after 51 consecutive weeks, she lost the No.1 spot in the rankings to Kenya’s African and Commonwealth champion Janeth Jepkosgei
. Nonetheless, Calatayud ended 2006 on a high note, winning the World Athletics Final and World Cup
on consecutive weekends, beating rival Jepkosgei on both occasions. She was selected as Cuban and Latin American sportswoman of the year in an annual survey conducted by Prensa Latina. A total of 115 media outlets from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States participated in the survey.
, Aymee Martinez
and Indira Terrero
. Since 2006, Calatayud has not made a major world final, falling in the semifinals at the World World Championships in Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009, as well as the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. In 2009, Calatayud won the 800 at the 22nd Central American and Caribbean Athletics Championships in Havana, Cuba, in the Estadio Panamericano.
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
) is a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n runner competing mostly in the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
event.
Early career
Calatayud, who attended Havana's Manuel Permuy Sports School, got involved in athletics to help her deal with her asthma. She first gained prominence by reaching the semi-finals of the 400m at the 1998 World Junior Championships in Annecy, France. In 1999, she ran 2:00.67 to finish second at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. She finished sixth in the 800m at the Olympics Games in Sydney, Australia. 2000 was also notable to Calatayud because she went under the 2-minute barrier, first doing so when she ran 1:59.63 in Jena, Germany.In 2002, Calatayud became the 30th-fastest woman ever in her event, running 1:56.09 at the Herculis Golden League meeting, in Monaco. It was to be her last competition for 19 months, as dual shin injuries kept the 22-year-old from even being able to train. She made a successful retun to competition, not only qualifying for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, but making her second consecutive Olympics final, finishing eighth.
World Domination
A consistent 2005 season prefaces Calatayud's participation in the IAAF World Championships2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
, in Helsinki. She ran a season’s best 1:57.92 in her semi-final, her second fastest ever, and In the final matched every move made by Mutola and world leader, Tatyana Andrianova. In 1:58.82, Zulia Calatayud had become a World Champion. She ended the 2005 season with a convincing victory at the World Athletics Final in Monaco. The winning streak landed her atop the IAAF World Rankings, replacing Mutola who had led since the rankings were introduced in 2001.
For the 2006 season, Calatayud picked up where she left off a few months prior. She clocked her second fastest time ever (1:56.91) when placing third at the Athletissima meeting, in Lausanne, in July. She claimed the 800m crown at the 20th Central American and Caribbean Games, in Cartagena, Colombia, but after 51 consecutive weeks, she lost the No.1 spot in the rankings to Kenya’s African and Commonwealth champion Janeth Jepkosgei
Janeth Jepkosgei
Janeth Jepkosgei is a Kenyan middle distance runner and world champion.- Early career :Janeth, nicknamed "Eldoret Express" is from Kabirirsang, near Kapsabet. Famous athletes Wilson Kipketer and Wilfred Bungei are also from the same village. She started athletics while at Kapsumbeiywo Primary...
. Nonetheless, Calatayud ended 2006 on a high note, winning the World Athletics Final and World Cup
2006 IAAF World Cup
The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....
on consecutive weekends, beating rival Jepkosgei on both occasions. She was selected as Cuban and Latin American sportswoman of the year in an annual survey conducted by Prensa Latina. A total of 115 media outlets from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States participated in the survey.
Injury Again
In 2007, Calatayud was injured again, this time her season did not get underway until June, but after six weeks of training, she took a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. She also ran the third leg as the Cuban team won the 4x400m relay gold with Daimi PerniaDaimí Pernía
Daimí Pernía Figueroa is a Cuban athlete competing mainly in 400 m hurdles. A former basketball player, she did not rise to international level until 1999, when she lowered her personal best from 55.51s to 52.89s and even became world champion.-Personal bests:*400 metres hurdles - 52.89 *200...
, Aymee Martinez
Aymée Martínez
Aymée Martínez is a Cuban sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres.Her personal best time is 51.74 seconds, achieved during the heats at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.-Achievements:- References :...
and Indira Terrero
Indira Terrero
Indira Terrero Letuce is a Cuban sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. Her personal best time is 51.00 seconds, achieved in May 2007 in Havana.-Achievements:-References:...
. Since 2006, Calatayud has not made a major world final, falling in the semifinals at the World World Championships in Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009, as well as the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. In 2009, Calatayud won the 800 at the 22nd Central American and Caribbean Athletics Championships in Havana, Cuba, in the Estadio Panamericano.
Personal bests
- 200 Metres - 24.33 01/01/1998
- 400 metres400 metresThe 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
50.87 (Alcalá de Henares 30/06/2001) - 800 metres800 metresThe 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
- 1:56.09 (Monaco 19/07/2002) - 1000 Metres - 2:34.31 (Bruxelles 30/08/2002)
- 1500 Metres - 4:23.84 (La Habana 17/03/2005)
Achievements
| Representing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Pan American Games 1999 Pan American Games The 1999 Pan American Games, officially the XIII Pan American Games or the 13th Pan American Games, was a major international multi-sport event that was held from July 23-August 8, 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Approximately 5,000 athletes from 42 nations participated at the games. The 1999... |
Winnipeg | 2nd | |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 6th | |
| 2001 | World Championships 2001 World Championships in Athletics The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America... |
Edmonton, Canada | 5th SF | |
| 2001 | 17th IAAF Grand Prix Final | Melbourne, Australia | 4th | 2:00.89 |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens | 8th | |
| 2002 | 9th IAAF World Cup in Athletics | Madrid | 4th | 1:59.44 |
| 2004 | Ibero-American Championships | Huelva | 1st | |
| 2005 | World Championships 2005 World Championships in Athletics The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of... |
Helsinki, Finland | 1st | 800 metres |
| 2005 | World Athletics Final 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final The 3rd IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on September 9, and September 10, 2005.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary on September 3 as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.- Medal... |
Monaco | 1st | |
| 2006 | Central American and Caribbean Games Athletics at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games The athletics competition at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games took place at the Estadio Pedro de Heredia in Cartagena, Colombia and lasted from July 25 to July 29. There were 23 events for men and 21 for women... |
Cartagena, Colombia Cartagena, Colombia Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department... |
1st | 800 metres |
| 2006 | World Athletics Final 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final The 4th IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stuttgart, Germany on September 9 and September 10, 2006.-Results:-External links:*... |
Stuttgart | 1st | |
| 2006 | IAAF World Cup | Athens, Greece | 1st | |
| 2007 | Pan American Games | Rio de Janeiro | 3rd | |
| 2009 | Central American and Caribbean Athletics Championships | Havana, Cuba | 1st | |
800m progression
| 2009 | 2:00.20 | Huelva | 10/06/2009 |
| 2008 | 1:58.78 | Beijing (National Stadium) | 16/08/2008 |
| 2007 | 2:00.34 | Rio de Janeiro | 24/07/2007 |
| 2006 | 1:56.91 | Lausanne | 11/07/2006 |
| 2005 | 1:57.92 | Helsinki | 07/08/2005 |
| 2004 | 1:59.21 | Athína (Olympic Stadium) | 21/08/2004 |
| 2002 | 1:56.09 | Monaco | 19/07/2002 |
| 2001 | 1:58.60 | Monaco | 20/07/2001 |
| 2000 | 1:58.66 | Sydney | 25/09/2000 |
| 1999 | 2:00.67 | Winnipeg | 25/07/1999 |
| 1997 | 2:12.7 | 01/01/1997 | |
| 1996 | 2:13.80 | 01/01/1996 | |
| 1995 | 2:18.9 | 01/01/1995 |