Sigrun Wodars
Encyclopedia
Sigrun Grau is an East German former middle distance
athlete, who was born Sigrun Ludwigs in Neu-Kaliß. She started out as a 400 m runner in Schwerin
, and proved successful in this event in junior meets. She then switched clubs and changed to the 800 m like her new club mate, Christine Wachtel
, who would also become her closest rival.
Now competing under the name of Wodars, she won her first national title in 1986, and placed second at the European Championships in Stuttgart
, behind Nadezhda Olizarenko
of the Soviet Union
.
The following year, she lost the world indoor
title to Wachtel, but took revenge at the outdoor World Championships
, defeating her in a close finish. The two repeated their one-two finish at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
.
Wodars completed her set of titles by also winning the 1990 European Championships in Split
, her last title. She divorced and took part as Sigrun Grau in the 1991 World Championships
and the 1992 Olympics
, but failed to make it through the preliminaries both times. She retired after the Barcelona Olympics, and currently works as a physiotherapist
.
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
athlete, who was born Sigrun Ludwigs in Neu-Kaliß. She started out as a 400 m runner in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
, and proved successful in this event in junior meets. She then switched clubs and changed to the 800 m like her new club mate, Christine Wachtel
Christine Wachtel
Christine Wachtel , is a German track and field athlete who won the silver medal for East Germany at the 1988 Olympic summer games in Seoul in the 800 metres run...
, who would also become her closest rival.
Now competing under the name of Wodars, she won her first national title in 1986, and placed second at the European Championships in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, behind Nadezhda Olizarenko
Nadezhda Olizarenko
Nadezhda Fyodorovna Olizarenko is a retired athlete, who competed mainly in the 800 metres. She represented the Soviet Union.Olizarenko competed for Soviet Union in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Russia in the 800 metres, where she won the gold medal ahead of country women Olga Mineyeva...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The following year, she lost the world indoor
IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics
The International Association of Athletics Federations World Indoor Championships were inaugurated as the World Indoor Games in 1985 in Paris, France and were subsequently renamed in 1987 as they are known today.-History:...
title to Wachtel, but took revenge at the outdoor World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
, defeating her in a close finish. The two repeated their one-two finish at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Wodars completed her set of titles by also winning the 1990 European Championships in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, her last title. She divorced and took part as Sigrun Grau in the 1991 World Championships
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
and the 1992 Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, but failed to make it through the preliminaries both times. She retired after the Barcelona Olympics, and currently works as a physiotherapist
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
.