Margitta Gummel
Encyclopedia
Margitta Gummel (née Helmbold; born 29 June 1941 in Magdeburg
) is a German
former Olympic gold medalist. She competed for the Unified German team
in the 1964 Summer Olympics
, East Germany
in the 1968 Summer Olympics
, and East Germany again
at the 1972 Summer Olympics
. One of the details characterising Gummel was her rivalry with Nadezhda Chizhova
of the Soviet Union
.
Margitta Gummel did not win any medals in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo
, where she competed in the shot put
event
. Later, at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City
, she won a gold medal in the shot put event, and, four years later, a silver medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich
, having been beaten by her rival Nadezhda Chizhova. In the 1968 shot put event, she became the first woman to throw more than 19 metres.
Gummel also competed for East Germany in the European Indoor Championships
. In 1966
, at Dortmund
, she placed first in the shot put event. In 1968
, this time at Madrid
, she placed second in the shot put, beaten by Nadezhda Chizhova. At Sofia
, in 1971
, she also placed second in shot put, beaten again by Chizhova.
She also competed in the European Championships
. In the 1966 Championships
, held in Budapest
, she placed second in the women's shot put. Chizhova placed first. She later competed in the 1969 Championships
, held in Athens
, with the same results. She also participated in the 1971 Championships
, held in Helsinki
, but this time received third as her rival Chizhova placed first.
It was later revealed that Gummel was one of the first East Germans to be administered steroids though she was not given her first dose of Turinabol until 28 July 1968, just under three months before the 1968 Games. A 1997 paper from the journal Clinical Chemistry reproduces charts from a 1973 DVfl scientific report that plot her Turinabol doses and competition distances for 1968, 1969 and 1972. The 1968 results show a 2 metre improvement in the space of the 3 months leading to her Olympic gold, in a fully trained athlete whose previous results had been consistent.
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....
) is a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
former Olympic gold medalist. She competed for the Unified German team
Germany at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Athletes from East Germany and West Germany competed together as the United Team of Germany for the last time at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan...
in the 1964 Summer 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...
, East Germany
East Germany at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Athletes from East Germany competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. 226 competitors, 186 men and 40 women, took part in 124 events in 18 sports...
in 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...
, and East Germany again
East Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Athletes from East Germany competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany...
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....
. One of the details characterising Gummel was her rivalry with Nadezhda Chizhova
Nadezhda Chizhova
Nadezhda Vladimirovna Chizhova is a Soviet shot putter who won three Olympic medals and set seven new world records. Nadezhda Chizhova trained at VSS Spartak. She became the first woman to break both the 20 metre and 21 metre barrier...
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....
.
Margitta Gummel did not win any medals in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where she competed in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
event
Athletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...
. Later, at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, she won a gold medal in the shot put event, and, four years later, a silver medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics 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...
, having been beaten by her rival Nadezhda Chizhova. In the 1968 shot put event, she became the first woman to throw more than 19 metres.
Gummel also competed for East Germany in the European Indoor Championships
European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Indoor Championships were held for the first time in 1970, replacing the European Indoor Games which had been held since 1966. Run by the European Athletic Association, the championships took place annually in different cities all over Europe until 1990, when it was changed...
. In 1966
1966 European Indoor Games
The 1966 European Indoor Games were the very first edition of what later became the European Athletics Indoor Championships. These games were held in 1966 at Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, a city of West Germany.- Track :- Field :- Medal table :...
, at Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, she placed first in the shot put event. In 1968
1968 European Indoor Games
The 3rd European Indoor Games were held in 1968 at Palacio de Deportes, Madrid, the capital of Spain.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-External links:* at GBRathletics.com* at GBRathletics.com...
, this time at Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, she placed second in the shot put, beaten by Nadezhda Chizhova. At Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, in 1971
1971 European Indoor Championships in Athletics
The 2nd European Athletics Indoor Championships were held in 1971 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.-Track:-Field:-Medal table:-References:* at GBR Athletics* at GBR Athletics* at Die Leichtatletik-Statistik-Seite...
, she also placed second in shot put, beaten again by Chizhova.
She also competed in the European Championships
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
. In the 1966 Championships
1966 European Championships in Athletics
The 8th European Athletics Championships were held from 30 August to 4 September 1966 in the Nép Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.-Men's results:-Women's results:-Medal table:- References :* *...
, held in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, she placed second in the women's shot put. Chizhova placed first. She later competed in the 1969 Championships
1969 European Championships in Athletics
The 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16 September to 21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens, the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1,500 metres and the women's 4x400 metres relay event....
, held 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...
, with the same results. She also participated in the 1971 Championships
1971 European Championships in Athletics
The 10th European Athletics Championships were held from 10 August to 15 August 1971 in the Olympic Stadium of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.-Track:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Field:1966 |1969 |1971 |1974 |1978-Track:...
, held 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...
, but this time received third as her rival Chizhova placed first.
It was later revealed that Gummel was one of the first East Germans to be administered steroids though she was not given her first dose of Turinabol until 28 July 1968, just under three months before the 1968 Games. A 1997 paper from the journal Clinical Chemistry reproduces charts from a 1973 DVfl scientific report that plot her Turinabol doses and competition distances for 1968, 1969 and 1972. The 1968 results show a 2 metre improvement in the space of the 3 months leading to her Olympic gold, in a fully trained athlete whose previous results had been consistent.