Iabanji Elena

About

Elena Iabanji, born in 1966 in the village of Tartaul, Cantemir district, is a remarkable athlete from the Republic of Moldova, who has been living in Portugal for decades, where she has become one of the most successful endurance runners in her adopted country. Having left Moldova under difficult economic and social conditions, she rebuilt her life from scratch in Portugal, where, after a period of work in the service sector, she joined the active culture of mass sports participation. Facing a cancer diagnosis in 2010 became the engine of a major metamorphosis: entering sports later in life, for recovery and physical rehabilitation, she discovered a special vocation for long-distance endurance races and ultramarathons. In Portugal, Elena Iabanji has established herself mainly in the field of trail running and endurance races, achieving numerous titles and distinctions of excellence. She is the national trail running champion in Portugal, having won the prestigious National Trail Circuit, a format of 10 competitions held throughout the year on varied and difficult courses. She has also triumphed in 24-hour and 100-kilometer races, including the 24-hour Supermarathon of Portugal and the Open Championship of the Republic of Moldova in Supermarathon, where she covered 178.063 km in 24 hours, setting an absolute record for that event. Her performances have been recognized in international ultra-marathon databases, and in recent years she has continued to compete in treks and obstacle course races, such as Spartan Race Andorra, where she won gold in the F55 age category. In parallel with her sports career, Elena Iabanji remains firmly anchored in Moldovan culture and community. Originally from the south of the country, she has not forgotten her native village, Tartaul, to which she brought support through sports equipment financed by her efforts in competitions. In Portugal, she initially worked in housekeeping and service jobs, but she kept time for intense training, sometimes after her work schedule, which demonstrates an exceptional level of discipline and dedication. In the years following her victory over illness, sport became for her not only a passion but also a form of gratitude towards the Portuguese medical system that provided her with free treatment, as well as a source of inspiration for others who have gone through the fight against cancer.