Lyubov Smolka (née Ruchkova; ; born 29 November 1952) is a Ukrainian former track and field athlete who competed in the 1500 metres for the Soviet Union.Lyubov Smolka. All-Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.
Born in Pavlohrad, Ukrainian SSR,Liubov Smolka. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. she had her breakthrough performance in Moscow in 1980, taking second place in the 1500 m to Tatyana Kazankina, who broke the world record. Smolka was two seconds behind with 3:56.7 minutes, though this was enough to make her the second fastest woman ever at that point.Track: Russian Shatters World Record. Lakeland Ledger (1980-07-07). Retrieved on 2016-05-29.World Top Performers 1980-2005: Women (Outdoor). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. Her time, as of 2016, still ranks her within the all-time top thirty athletes for the event.Senior Outdoor 1500 Metres women All Time Best. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.
Smolka ranked third at the Soviet Athletics Championships and was chosen for the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a result.Lyubov Smolka. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. She reached the final at the Moscow Games and placed sixth in the 1500 metres final. That year she also set a best in the 3000 metres with 8:36.0 minutes.Lyubov Smolka. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2016-05-29. Her sole international medal came at the 1981 European Athletics Indoor Championships, where she was bronze medallist in the 1500 m, behind Italy's Agnese Possamai and fellow Soviet Valentina Ilyinykh.European Indoor Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2016-05-29.
Later in her career, she was fourth in the 3000 m at the 1984 Soviet Championships and runner-up at the 1985 Soviet Championships, but never again competed at a major international championship.
International competitions 1980Olympic GamesMoscow, Soviet Union6th1500 m4:01.31981European Indoor ChampionshipsGrenoble, France3rd1500 m4:08.64
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