Rosemarie Ackermann
Encyclopedia
Rosemarie Ackermann (born 4 April 1952) is a former East German high jump
er. She was the first female high jumper ever to clear the height of 2.00 m, on 26 August 1977 in Berlin
.
She was born as Rosemarie Witschas in Lohsa
, Sachsen. Under that name, she took part for East Germany in the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
, finishing seventh behind Ulrike Meyfarth
.
In 1974, at the European Championships in Rome
, she won her first international title, setting a new world record
(1.95m) along the way. Later that year, she married handball
player Manfred Ackermann, and assumed his surname. The peak of her career came two years later, when she won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics
held in Montreal, Canada.
She lost her European title to Italian jumper Sara Simeoni
in 1978, when they both cleared the world-record height of 2.01 m. However, Ackermann's early celebrations caused the rod to fall, leaving her with second place. Ackermann retired from athletics after the 1980 Olympics
, where she placed fourth, just outside the medals.
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
er. She was the first female high jumper ever to clear the height of 2.00 m, on 26 August 1977 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
She was born as Rosemarie Witschas in Lohsa
Lohsa
Lohsa is a municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany....
, Sachsen. Under that name, she took part for East Germany in 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...
, finishing seventh behind Ulrike Meyfarth
Ulrike Meyfarth
Ulrike Nasse-Meyfarth is a German former high jumper. She won the Olympic title twice, in 1972 and 1984. She is the youngest Olympic champion ever in women's high jump, and at the time of her 1984 triumph, she was also the oldest ever...
.
In 1974, at the European Championships in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, she won her first international title, setting a new 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...
(1.95m) along the way. Later that year, she married handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
player Manfred Ackermann, and assumed his surname. The peak of her career came two years later, when she won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
held in Montreal, Canada.
She lost her European title to Italian jumper Sara Simeoni
Sara Simeoni
Sara Simeoni is an Italian former high jumper, who won a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics and twice set a world record in the women's high jump.-Biography:...
in 1978, when they both cleared the world-record height of 2.01 m. However, Ackermann's early celebrations caused the rod to fall, leaving her with second place. Ackermann retired from athletics after the 1980 Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, where she placed fourth, just outside the medals.