She lost to Ion Sandu, a successful businessman, by 113 votes to 89, in an election held at the People's House in Bucharest.

The third candidate Traian Badea withdrew before the election to support Sandu, who also had the backing of Los Angeles 1984 3,000m Olympic gold medallist Maricica Puica, Sydney 2000 15000m silver medallist Violeta Beclea and Ionela Târlea, the Athens 2004 400m hurdles silver medallist.  

"Frankly, I expected to lose," said the 37-year-old Szabo (pictured top), a member of the ruling Council of European Athletics. 

"I'm disappointed, but it was the voter's choice and I have nothing to comment.

"The important thing is to leave somebody behind who will come to lead FRA and do something for Romanian athletics."

Szabo is now considering whether to stay on as head of the FRA's marketing department.

"I do not know," she said.

"I need to trust the new President,"

Sandu, who replaced former high jumper Sorin Matei, has claimed he wants Szabo to stay on in her role.

Gabreila Szabo (left) waiting for the result of the election with her rival Ion Sandu (right)

"I said to her, 'Come with me and together to form a family and to honour the Romanian sports especially athletics'."

Sandu has pledged to invest money into Romanian athletics and has set a target of winning two medals at Rio 2016. 

"If I can find 10-15 athletes and give them world-class training conditions we can produce two medals in Rio," he said.

Romanian athletes failed to win a medal at London 2012.

Their last medal came at Beijing 2008 when Constantina Diṭă-Tomescu won the marathon. 

Diṭă-Tomescu supported Szabo in the election. 

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