Szabo became the first gymnast to win two Junior European all-around titles, competing against Lavinia Agache and Natalia Ilienko (in 1980) and Olga Mostepanova and Yelena Shushunova (in 1982).

[14] In response to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies including the Soviet Union, Cuba and East Germany (but not Romania) boycotted the Games.

While preparing for the Olympics, Szabo scored a perfect 40.0 for her compulsory exercises at a dual meet held in Czechoslovakia.

In the all-around competition, however, she lost the title by .05 to Mary Lou Retton and received the silver medal.

Despite the second-place finish, she posted the highest cumulative score, which would have given her the title if the competition were held under the New Life rule.

[7] Despite personal disappointment for not winning the all-around title, Szabo returned home to Romania a heroine.

[15] After the 1987 Worlds Szabo retired from artistic gymnastics and she went to study at the University of Physical and Sports Education in Bucharest.

After graduation, she worked as a coach at Deva where she trained among others Nadia Haţegan, Andreea Cacovean, and the 1999 World Champion Maria Olaru.

[18] A strong all-arounder with artistic sensibilities, Szabo had a clean form in execution and was rewarded 17 scores of perfect ten between 1983 and 1984.

[19] Her skills included a tucked backward salto with a full twist on beam (e.g. 1982 Ennia Cup[20]).

At the 1983 Worlds and 1984 Olympic Games Event Finals she also dismounted with a double back flip with a full twist in a tuck position which was unheard of.