Lyubov Smolka (née Ruchkova; uk|Любовь Смолка-Ручкова; born 29 November 1952) is a Ukrainian former track and field athlete who competed in the 1500 metres for the Soviet Union.[1]
Born in Pavlohrad, Ukrainian SSR,[2] 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.[3] [4] Her time, as of 2016, still ranks her within the all-time top thirty athletes for the event.[5]
Smolka ranked third at the Soviet Athletics Championships and was chosen for the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a result.[6] She reached the final at the Moscow Games and placed sixth in the 1500 metres final.[2] That year she also set a best in the 3000 metres with 8:36.0 minutes.[7] 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.[8]
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.[6]
| 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Soviet Union | 6th | 1500 m | 4:01.3 | |
| 1981 | European Indoor Championships | Grenoble, France | 3rd | 1500 m | 4:08.64 |