Career
She was an alternate to the artistic gymnastics team at the 1992 Olympics. After retiring from artistic gymnastics she enjoyed a tremendously successful aerobic gymnastics career winning an impressive number of 16 world and continental medals including the 2000 individual world title. Lăcătuş started gymnastics at the Computer Software Systems Triumf club in her hometown Bucharest, but later she moved to Deva where she trained with the national team
She progressed rapidly and in 1989 she moved up to the senior team and trained alongside Daniela Silivaş.
In 1990, following the Revolution, the gym at Deva closed and Lăcătuş went to train at the Olympic Center in Oneşti. Although still a junior according to the FIG rules, she participated in 1990 at competitions reserved for seniors as well as in junior meets.
Her best results in 1990 were a 4th all around at Chunichi Cup and a 5th all around at the Avignion Junior International. By the end of 1990 the gym at Deva opened again and the national team was reinstated.
Izabela missed the 1991 Romanian International due to an injury but she competed in the Junior European Championships where she placed 4th all around.
Eugenia Popa was the first alternate. In 1992 Izabela competed at several competitions but an ankle injury sidelined her for the rest of the year. She did not manage to make a full recovery and retired in 1994.
In 1994 she started to train for aerobic gymnastics at Computer Software Systems Triumf Club with coach Maria Fumea and to coach the lower level gymnasts at the same club
She enrolled at the Sports University in Bucharest, with the hope of becoming a coach after graduation. Izabela also performed in the Aeros entertainment show.
Her debut as an aerobic gymnast in an international event was at the 1st World Aerobic Gymnastics Championships in Paris, 1995. During her aerobic gymnastics career she competed in the individual event, mixed pairs and groups.
She also placed 5th on the individual event at the 2004 world championships.
She also placed seventh on mixed pairs at the 1997 word championships. Lăcătuş retired after the 2006 world championships. She is currently coaching aerobic gymnastics at the Computer Software Systems Triumf club in Bucharest.
