National Stamp Company Romfilatelia launched on Friday, during an event organized by the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR), an issue of postage stamps titled 'GOLDEN ATHLETES' - Gabriela Szabo, in celebration of the 50th birthday of the Sydney 2000 Olympic champion.

'That was an extremely beautiful moment for me and I thank everyone who is part of my life story. I worked with most of them particularly after retiring from sports, and for this I thank them so much, and especially Romfilatelia and the Romanian Post for this wonderful stamp they offered me as a gift on my 50th anniversary, but also the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. At 15 years old, when I took flight from home, how could I have imagined that I could reach so high? I didn't. But I had the will to succeed - and even if I seemed small and fragile (like the finest perfumes kept in tiny bottles), I carried a fierce drive to win as many medals as possible. I didn't want to be the best in Romania, I wanted to be the best in the world and this dream came true for me in 1999. After ranking among the top three athletes in 1997 and 1998, 1999 was the cherry on top - I was named the best athlete in the world by both the International Association of Athletics Federations and the World Sports Press Association,' Szabo declared at the end of the event.

The Olympic champion in the 5,000m event at Sydney 2000 hopes to realize her dream of writing a book about her career, remarking that 'Time is tight, but I would need a year to do it - I truly enjoy writing.'

Secretary General of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee George Boroi said that Romania further produces role models like Gabriela Szabo.

'Today we celebrate not just an athlete, but a champion, a destiny that started in Bistrita, conquered the world and became a symbol of global athletics. 50 years of life, 30 of which dedicated to sports, and we are here to mark a special philatelic issue, a stamp that carries the image of a national treasure that will spread this message: Romania has landmarks, Romania has inspirational people,' said Boroi.

President of the Romanian Rowing Federation and COSR Vice-President Elisabeta Lipa has known Szabo since she was a junior: 'I have known Gabi since she was 12 and despite her frail and delicate appearance, she is very ambitious and deeply committed, a person you can rely on. Her success came from sheer determination and desire, and even at 50, she continues to push forward. We shared emotions in Atlanta and Sydney- through victories and defeats - and those moments are woven into the fabric of our lives.'

President of the National Sports Agency Bogdan Matei stated that Romania still needs Gabriela Szabo's experience and thanked her for uniting people by inspiring a shared emotional experience and national pride, as Romanians rooted for her as she competed and felt deeply connected to their identity.

Constantina Dita, president of the Romanian Athletics Federation remembered their days at the Baile Felix training camp, saying that Szabo's dedication to guiding young athletes is invaluable, and voicing hope that she will remain close to the Federation, because Romanian athletics needs everyone, and especially its Olympic champions.

General director of Romfilatelia, Gabriel Bulumac, stated that the entire staff of the company was privileged to work on the creation of the stamp depicting the Olympic champion.

'We were lucky and privileged to work on these wonderful stamps, because the stamp, along with the flag, the national anthem and the currency, is one of the moments of national identity and is the smallest and most effective ambassador a state can have. I believe that we are living in times when we increasingly need landmarks, and Gabriela Szabo is one of the landmarks we need,' said Bulumac.

The event took place at the Sports Museum and, along with Gabriela Szabo, was attended by several presidents of sports federations and sports personalities such as Elisabeta Lipa, Camelia Potec, Octavian Bellu, Constantina Dita, Ana-Maria Branza or Andreea Raducan.

Former great athlete Gabriela Szabo, born November 14, 1975 in Bistrita, is a multiple European, world and Olympic champion. In 1998 she became the first athlete in the world to post the year's top performance across five events: 1,500 meters, one mile, 2,000 meters, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.

In 1999 she was named Athlete of the Year by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) and World Sportswoman of the Year by the World Sports Press Association (AIPS). Gabriela Szabo has been named the best athlete in Romania ten times in a row. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)