Petra Schneider

Petra Schneider (born 11 January 1963 in Karl-Marx-Stadt, now Chemnitz) is a former medley and freestyle swimmer from East Germany in the 1970s and 1980s.[1]

Petra Schneider
Petra Schneider in 1979
Personal information
NationalityEast German
Born (1963-01-11) 11 January 1963
Karl-Marx-Stadt, Karl Marx-Stadt District
(now Chemnitz, Saxony)
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesMedley
Freestyle
ClubSC Karl-Marx-Stadt

She won an Olympic gold medal in the 400 m individual medley at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow,[1] and set five world records in swimming. She was named by Swimming World magazine as World Swimmer of the Year in 1980 and 1982, but her achievements are regarded with suspicion due to the state-run systematic doping program run by East Germany. She later admitted to having been doped.[2]

In 2005, she called for her last remaining record (German national record in the 400 m individual medley) to be struck from the record books, because it was achieved with the aid of steroids.[3]

Schneider came to prominence at the 1978 World Championships in Berlin, winning bronze in the 400 m individual medley behind arch-rival Tracy Caulkins of the United States with whom she shares the same birthday.[4] Thereafter, she never lost to Caulkins again, repeatedly lowering Caulkins' world record in the event, three times in 1980 from 4:40.83 to 4:36.29 at the Moscow Olympics, which was boycotted by the United States. She improved her record to 4:36.10 at Guayaquil in 1982 and it was not bettered until 1997.

Schneider's victory in the 400 m event left silver medallist Sharron Davies of the United Kingdom 10 seconds in arrears. This particular victory, however, has been proven to be fraudulent as Schneider later admitted to doping as part of the Stasi era's drugs program wherein many female athletes were put on testosterone to enhance their outcome. She also held the world record in the 200 m individual medley, but was denied a gold medal as the event was canceled for the 1980 games. She also collected a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle.

She repeated her haul at the 1982 World Championships in Ecuador, winning the medley double and a silver in the 400 m freestyle.[4] She also won three European Championships medals[5] and set eight European records. She was also named by Swimming World as the European Swimmer of the Year in 1979 and 1980. However, her Olympic career was ended when the Soviet bloc, including East Germany, staged a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.

Schneider attributed her success in swimming (prior to admissions of doping) with the quote

For me swimming is the most beautiful of all sports. Although I have been training for very many years and have taken part in a great number of competitions, I always find something new in this sport. And this I'm sure is greatly to the credit of my coach, Eberhard Mothes, who takes my training sessions at the sport club in Karl-Marx-Stadt and never fails to come up with something interesting or challenging in the course of the work. I am the kind of person who likes being expected to achieve as much as I possibly can.

See also

References

  1. Petra Schneider. sports-reference.com
  2. "Schneider Fesses Up". Swimming World Magazine.com. 1998-04-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
  3. "Former Swimmer Wants Record Abolished". ABC News. 2005-12-22. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
  4. Jean-Louis Meuret (2007), HistoFINA Volume IV – Tome IV. MEDALLISTS AND STATISTICS. Special FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (50 m.) Before Rome 2009.
  5. Petra SCHNEIDER. les-sports.info
Records
Preceded by
Tracy Caulkins
Women's 200 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

24 May 1980 4 July 1981
Succeeded by
Ute Geweniger
Preceded by
Tracy Caulkins
Women's 400 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

30 March 1980 13 October 1997
Succeeded by
Chen Yan
Preceded by
Incumbent
Women's 1500 metre freestyle
world record holder (short course)

12 January 1982 20 November 2004
Succeeded by
Laure Manaudou
Awards
Preceded by
Incumbent
World Swimmer of the Year
1980
Succeeded by
Mary T. Meagher
Preceded by
Mary T. Meagher
World Swimmer of the Year
1982
Succeeded by
Ute Geweniger
Preceded by
Incumbent
European Swimmer of the Year
1980
Succeeded by
Ute Geweniger
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