Karin Balzer
Encyclopedia
Karin Balzer is a former East German hurdler
, one of the best in high hurdles event during the 1960s.
She was born Karin Richert in Magdeburg
, and competed in several track and field
events when she was young. However, the 80 m hurdles appeared to be her best event, and she qualified for the United Team of Germany
for the 1960 Summer Olympics
. At the time, the team was still made up from athletes of both East and West Germany
. She narrowly missed qualification for the final.
The following year, she married her coach, former pole vaulter, Karl-Heinz Balzer. Some years earlier, they had briefly fled the DDR, but had returned weeks later. Now competing as Karin Balzer, she won her first international medal, silver at the 1962 European Championships. In 1964, she tied the world record
in the high hurdles during a pentathlon
competition. Although her score in that event was also excellent, she never competed in that event in major meets.
At the Tokyo Olympics
that same year, she placed for the final of the 80 m hurdles. In an amazingly close finish, the first three runners all timed 10,5, equal to the world record (although there had been a wind advantage, meaning the record was not ratified). Electronic timing showed Balzer had beaten the two other medallists by one and two hundredths of a second, respectively.
Two years later, Balzer won a second title at the European Championships, and she placed fifth in the 1968 Olympic
final. That was the last major event in which the high hurdles were run over 80 m; from 1969 on, the event became the 100 m. Balzer set the inaugural world record in that event, in June 1969, but would lower it two more times that year. She also successfully defended her European title in Athens
, which she repeated in Helsinki
two years later.
While in training for the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
, Balzer's son, Andreas was involved in an accident, and was comatised. He died the day before the final of the 100 m hurdles, but her husband did not tell her until after the race, in which she won her second Olympic medal, bronze.
Balzer's second son, Falk Balzer
also became a hurdler. His best achievement is a second place in the 110 m hurdles at the 1999 European Championships.
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
, one of the best in high hurdles event during the 1960s.
She was born Karin Richert in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, and competed in several track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events when she was young. However, the 80 m hurdles appeared to be her best event, and she qualified for the United Team of Germany
United Team of Germany
The Unified Team of Germany , competed in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Winter and Summer Olympic Games as a united team of athletes from the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic...
for the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. At the time, the team was still made up from athletes of both East and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. She narrowly missed qualification for the final.
The following year, she married her coach, former pole vaulter, Karl-Heinz Balzer. Some years earlier, they had briefly fled the DDR, but had returned weeks later. Now competing as Karin Balzer, she won her first international medal, silver at the 1962 European Championships. In 1964, she tied the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the high hurdles during a pentathlon
Women's pentathlon
The pentathlon is a sports contest made up of five events . The women's pentathlon was contested in the Olympics from 1964 until 1980, and it was replaced in the 1984 Games with the heptathlon. It had a different set of events than the ancient Olympic pentathlon...
competition. Although her score in that event was also excellent, she never competed in that event in major meets.
At the Tokyo Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
that same year, she placed for the final of the 80 m hurdles. In an amazingly close finish, the first three runners all timed 10,5, equal to the world record (although there had been a wind advantage, meaning the record was not ratified). Electronic timing showed Balzer had beaten the two other medallists by one and two hundredths of a second, respectively.
Two years later, Balzer won a second title at the European Championships, and she placed fifth in the 1968 Olympic
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
final. That was the last major event in which the high hurdles were run over 80 m; from 1969 on, the event became the 100 m. Balzer set the inaugural world record in that event, in June 1969, but would lower it two more times that year. She also successfully defended her European title in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, which she repeated in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
two years later.
While in training for the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Balzer's son, Andreas was involved in an accident, and was comatised. He died the day before the final of the 100 m hurdles, but her husband did not tell her until after the race, in which she won her second Olympic medal, bronze.
Balzer's second son, Falk Balzer
Falk Balzer
Falk Balzer is a former German hurdler best known for winning the silver medal at the 1998 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary....
also became a hurdler. His best achievement is a second place in the 110 m hurdles at the 1999 European Championships.