Karin Büttner-Janz
Encyclopedia
Karin Büttner-Janz Karin Büttner-Janz (born 17 February 1952 in Hartmannsdorf a district of Lübben (Spreewald)
, German Democratic Republic
(GDR, commonly:East Germany) is a medical doctor, Olympic medal winner in artistic gymnastics
and, since March 1990, chief physician of the orthopedic Vivantes hospital in Friedrichshain
.
In 1967, at the age of fifteen, Karin Janz was nominated as East German Athlete of the Year despite not yet having had any international success. She went on to win the silver medal on the uneven bars and a bronze medal
as part of the country's gymnastics team at the 1968 Summer Olympics
.
At the 1970 world championships she overcame Ludmilla Tourischeva
on the uneven bars to win the gold medal. In a controversial finish, she delivered another gold medal winning performance on the uneven bars at the 1972 Munich Olympics, defeating Olga Korbut
on her favourite apparatus. She also won the gold medal on the vault, a silver medal as part of the East German women's gymnastic team, and bronze on the balance beam. She was the most successful sports woman of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) at the 1972 Summer Olympics
and was recognized there as Sportswoman of the Year in 1972. After these successes she announced her intention of ending her competitive career to turn to the study of medicine to become a physician.
Karin has an uneven bars element named after her, the Janz Salto, which she first performed in competition at the SV Dynamo
Spartakiade in East Berlin
, 1971.
beginning in 1971 and earned her diploma in emergency medicine
. Later, she conducted her clinical semester at the orthopedic hospital of the Charité
and went on to specialize in orthopaedics. She obtained her doctorate
and habilitation
through her work on the development of an artificial spine disk, known as the Charité Disc. She is co-owner of a patent
on the device with her colleague Kurt Schellnack. Subsequently, Büttner-Janz moved to the clinic of Hellersdorf
.
Lübben (Spreewald)
Lübben is a town of 14,800 people, capital of the Dahme-Spreewald district in the Lower Lusatia region of Brandenburg, Germany.-Administrative structure:Districts of the town are:...
, German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(GDR, commonly:East Germany) is a medical doctor, Olympic medal winner in artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
and, since March 1990, chief physician of the orthopedic Vivantes hospital in Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain is a part of Berlin's borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and like Kreuzberg across the river it has its own distinct character, with the result that the new double name is hardly ever used outside government administration. From its creation in 1920 until Berlin's 2001...
.
Sporting career
Her first coach was her father Guido Janz, who taught her excellent basics. Karin moved to a sports school in Forst, where she trained under Klaus Helbeck. Her final coach was Jürgen Heritz.In 1967, at the age of fifteen, Karin Janz was nominated as East German Athlete of the Year despite not yet having had any international success. She went on to win the silver medal on the uneven bars and a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
as part of the country's gymnastics team at the 1968 Summer Olympics
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...
.
At the 1970 world championships she overcame Ludmilla Tourischeva
Ludmilla Tourischeva
Ludmilla Ivanovna Tourischeva is a former Russian gymnast and a nine-time Olympic medalist for the Soviet Union.Tourischeva began gymnastics in 1965 and began competing for the Soviet team as early as in 1967...
on the uneven bars to win the gold medal. In a controversial finish, she delivered another gold medal winning performance on the uneven bars at the 1972 Munich Olympics, defeating Olga Korbut
Olga Korbut
Olga Valentinovna Korbut , also known as the Sparrow from Minsk, is a Belarusian, Soviet-born gymnast who won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Summer Olympics, in which she competed in 1972 and 1976 for the USSR team....
on her favourite apparatus. She also won the gold medal on the vault, a silver medal as part of the East German women's gymnastic team, and bronze on the balance beam. She was the most successful sports woman of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) at 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....
and was recognized there as Sportswoman of the Year in 1972. After these successes she announced her intention of ending her competitive career to turn to the study of medicine to become a physician.
Karin has an uneven bars element named after her, the Janz Salto, which she first performed in competition at the SV Dynamo
SV Dynamo
The Sports Club Dynamo was the sport organization of the security agencies of former East Germany. The sports club was founded on 27 March 1953 and was headquartered in Hohenschönhausen in East Berlin...
Spartakiade in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
, 1971.
Academic physician
Karin Janz studied at the Humboldt University in East BerlinEast Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
beginning in 1971 and earned her diploma in emergency medicine
Emergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
. Later, she conducted her clinical semester at the orthopedic hospital of the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
and went on to specialize in orthopaedics. She obtained her doctorate
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
and habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
through her work on the development of an artificial spine disk, known as the Charité Disc. She is co-owner of a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
on the device with her colleague Kurt Schellnack. Subsequently, Büttner-Janz moved to the clinic of Hellersdorf
Hellersdorf
Hellersdorf is a locality in the borough of Marzahn-Hellersdorf in Berlin. Between 1986 and Berlin's 2001 administrative reform, it was a borough in its own right, consisting of the current area of Hellersdorf as well as Kaulsdorf and Mahlsdorf.-History:...
.
Honours
- 1967 - European vice-championChampionA champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
on the asymmetric bars, bronze medal on vault. - 1968 - silver medal at the Olympics on the asymmetric bars, bronze medal in the team competition.
- 1969 - four time European champion (all-round, vault, uneven bars, balance beam), vice-champion in floor exercise.
- 1970 - world champion on the asymmetric bars, vice-champion on vault and in the team competition.
- 1972 - European champion on vault and the asymmetric bars, silver medal in the all-round and in the team competition, bronze medal on the balance beam.
- 1984 - first OI, where their invention, Charite artificial spine disk was used.
- 1987 - honorary member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine; consolation prize of the Olympic Committee “in appreciation of her outstanding sports and academic career”.
- 2000 - nominated as "Gymnast of the Century".
- 2003 - inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of FameInternational Gymnastics Hall of FameThe International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
.