Iolanda Balaş (Timişoara, Romania, 12 December 1936) was a Romanian athlete and an Olympic champion in high-jump, considered one of the greatest high jumpers ever.

She obtained two Olympic gold medals in the edition of Roma 1960 and Tokyo 1964 and she became famous for her domination of women's high jump for a decade. Between 1957 and 1967, Balaş won 140 consecutive competitions, improving the world record 14 times, from 1.74m to 1.91m.

Her record of 1.91 resisted until the end of 1971, when the introduction of Fosbury style allowed other athletes to improve it.