Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann, from Erfurt, was the best female speed skater for more than a decade. She won her first European title in 1989 and her last in 2001. Her list of titles is impressive: 8 World titles, 8 European titles, 10 World Single Distance titles, 3 Olympic titles and 19 World Cup victories. She has 98 World Cup single distance wins, which is a record for both men and women.

In the Olympic Games 1994 she was the big favourite for 3 distances. But she hit a lane marker and fell after 450 metres on the opening distance, 3000 m, and apparently she never overcome this. She placed 2nd on the 5000 m, losing the gold by half a second to compatriot Claudia Pechstein, and she placed 3rd on the 1500 m, which was won by Emese Hunyady.

In the Nagano Olympics 1998 she won the 3000 m. On the 5000 m she was the first woman to break the 7 minutes barrier, by doing 6.59,65. But once again she was beaten by her teammate Pechstein, this time by 0.04 seconds. She also placed 2nd on the 1500 m, making her total medal count 8 Olympic medals (3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze), which is tied with Karin Kania as an Olympic record.

The Salt Lake City Olympics 2002 should have been her fifth and final games, but on October 17th 2001, the German Skating Federation announced Niemann-Stirnemann's pregnancy, which meant she would not make the Olympics.

#1 on the Adelskalender: 24 November 1993 - 13 March 1998, 14 March 1998 - 2 March 2001

By Bjarte Hetland, last updated November 26, 2005