Maria Mutola, 37-years-old, dominated the women’s 800-meter, middle-distance running for over a decade. She has eleven world championship titles and an Olympic gold medal before she retired from running. She was the fourth Track & Field athlete to compete at six Olympics. Her retirement was cut short, by surprise, when she decided to pursue her long time love of football.
“It was a surprise,” she said in an interview with stuff.co.nz. “I wasn’t looking to play football. I brought a friend here to South Africa from Mozambique to look for a football team. And I ended up playing.”
It was a move that has satisfied her competitive streak and allowed her to utilize her speed and athleticism. She was the leading scorer this season on her team. She has always been an achiever, rather on the track, on the feild or in her personal life.
“My career was very nice,” she said. “I don’t think there is anything I’d like to change apart from staying a little bit longer winning medals for my country and myself. I think I had a wonderful career. I’m very, very happy.”
Best times
- 200 m 23.86
- 400 m 51.37
- 800 m 1:55.19
- 1000 m 2:29.34
- 1500 m 4:01.50
- 3000 m 9:27.37
- 5000 m 18:15.10
800 m. honors
- Olympic Games: 1988 first round; 1992 5th and 9th 1500 m; 1996 3rd; 2000 1st; 2004 4th
- World Championships: 1991 4th; 1993 1st; 1995 disqualified semi final; 1997 3rd; 1999 2nd; 2001 1st; 2003 1st, 2005 Honorable Mention
- World Indoor Championships: 1993 1st; 1995 1st; 1997 1st; 1999 2nd; 2001 1st; 2003 1st; 2004 1st; 2006 1st
- World Cup: 1992 1st and 3rd 4×400 m Relay; 1994 1st; 1998 1st; 2002 1st and 4th 4×400 m Relay
- All-Africa Games: 1991 1st; 1995 1st
- African Championships: 1988 2nd; 1990 1st and 1st 1500 m; 1993 1st; 1998 1st; 2002 1st; 2008 2nd
- Commonwealth Games: 1998 1st; 2002 1st; 2006 3rd