Representing Romania, she became the 1992 Olympic silver medallist, while representing Germany, she won a silver medal at the 1995 World Championship and the 1995 world indoor title.

Her biggest success for her native Romania was when winning the silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, where she cleared 2.00 m.[1] On 9 January 1995, Astafei left the Romania track and field association and attained German citizenship on 1 March 1995.

Her brother Petre Jr. was a rugby player; he died aged 22 during the 1989 Romanian Revolution.

Astafei was married to the Romanian national volleyball player Alin Stavariu, but they divorced before 1995.

On 1 March 1995 she obtained German citizenship and later changed her name from Galina to Alina.