East Germany women's national artistic gymnastics team

East Germany

Continental union	European Union of Gymnastics
Olympic Games
Appearances	5
Medals	Silver: 1972 Bronze: 1968, 1976, 1980, 1988
World Championships
Medals	Silver: 1970 1974 Bronze: 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987

The East Germany women's national artistic gymnastics team represented East Germany in FIG international competitions.

History

Shortly after World War II Germany was split into East Germany and West Germany. For many years East and West Germany had competed as a Unified Team.[1] East Germany made their World Championships debut in 1962 and their Olympic debut in 1968.

Team competition results

Olympic Games

• 1968 — Bronze medal

  Maritta Bauerschmidt, Karin Janz, Marianne Noack, Magdalena Schmidt, Ute Starke, Erika Zuchold

• 1972 — Silver medal

  Irene Abel, Angelika Hellmann, Karin Janz, Richarda Schmeisser, Christine Schmitt, Erika Zuchold

• 1976 – Bronze medal

  Carola Dombeck, Gitta Escher, Kerstin Gerschau, Angelika Hellmann, Marion Kische, Steffi Kräker

• 1980 – Bronze medal

  Maxi Gnauck, Silvia Hindorff, Steffi Kräker, Katharina Rensch, Karola Sube, Birgit Süss

• 1984 – did not participate due to boycott [2]
• 1988 – Bronze medal[3]

  Gabriele Fähnrich, Martina Jentsch, Dagmar Kersten, Ulrike Klotz, Bettina Schieferdecker, Dörte Thümmler

World Championships

See also: East Germany at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

• 1962 – 5th place

• 1966 – 4th place

• 1970 – silver medal

  Angelika Hellmann, Karin Janz, Marianne Noack, Richarda Schmeißer, Christine Schmitt, Erika Zuchold

• 1974 – silver medal

  Angelika Hellmann, Annelore Zinke, Richarda Schmeißer, Bärbel Röhrich, Heike Gerisch, Irene Abel

• 1979 – bronze medal

  Maxi Gnauck, Regina Grabolle, Silvia Hindorff, Steffi Kräker, Katharina Rensch, Karola Sube

• 1981 – bronze medal

  Steffi Kräker, Annett Lindner, Birgit Senff, Kerstin Jacobs, Franka Voigt, Maxi Gnauck

• 1983 – bronze medal

  Maxi Gnauck, Gabriele Fähnrich, Astrid Heese, Diana Morawe, Silvia Rau, Bettina Schieferdecker

• 1985 – bronze medal

  Gabriele Fähnrich, Jana Fuhrmann, Martina Jentsch, Dagmar Kersten, Ulrike Klotz, Jana Vogel

• 1987 – bronze medal

  Dörte Thümmler, Ulrike Klotz, Martina Jentsch, Klaudia Rapp, Astrid Heese, Gabriele Fähnrich

Most decorated gymnasts

This list includes all East German female artistic gymnasts who have won at least four medals at the Olympic Games and the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined. This list does not includes medals won as a unified Germany. Also not included are medals won at the 1984 Friendship Games (alternative Olympics).

Rank	Gymnast	Team	AA	VT	UB	BB	FX	Olympic Total	World Total	Total
1	Maxi Gnauck	1980 1979 1981 1983	1980 1979	1981	1980 1979 1981	1981 1983	1980	4	9	13
2	Karin Büttner-Janz	1972 1968 1970	1972	1972 1970	1972 1968 1970	1972		7	3	10
3	Erika Zuchold	1972 1968 1970	1970	1968 1972 1970 1966	1972	1970		5	5	10
4	Steffi Kräker	1976 1980 1978 1979 1981		1980 1978 1979 1981	1980			4	6	10
5	Dagmar Kersten	1988 1985	1985	1985	1988 1985			2	4	6
6	Gabriele Fähnrich	1988 1983 1985 1987			1985			1	4	5
7	Angelika Hellmann	1972 1976 1970 1974	1974					2	3	5
8	Ulrike Klotz	1988 1985 1987					1985	1	3	4

Hall of Famers

The following East German gymnasts have been inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame:

• Maxi Gnauck (2000)[4]
• Karin Büttner-Janz (2003)[5]
• Erika Zuchold (2005)[6]
• Steffi Kräker (2011)[7]

References

1. Blakemore, Erin (February 12, 2018). "A Divided Germany Came Together for the Olympics Decades Before Korea Did". History.com.
2. "EAST GERMANY JOINS SOVIET IN BOYCOTTING GAMES". New York Times. May 11, 1984.
3. "Gymnastics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
4. "Maxi Gnauck | the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame".
5. "Karin Janz | the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame".
6. "Erika Zuchold| the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame".
7. "Steffi Kraeker | the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame".