Margit Schumann

Summary

Margit Schumann (14 September 1952 – 11 April 2017) was an East German luger who competed during the 1970s and early 1980s. Competing in three Winter Olympics, she won two medals in the women's singles event with a gold in 1976 and a bronze in 1972.

Margit Schumann
Personal information
Born14 September 1952
Waltershausen, Bezirk Erfurt, East Germany
Died11 April 2017(2017-04-11) (aged 64)
Oberhof
Medal record
Women's Luge
Representing  East Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Innsbruck Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Sapporo Women's singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Oberhof Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1974 Königssee Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1975 Hammarstrand Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1977 Igls Women's singles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Königssee Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1974 Imst Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1975 Olang Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 1977 Königssee Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1979 Oberhof Women's singles

Schumann also won four consecutive gold medals at the FIL World Luge Championships (197375, 1977). Her number of championships would not be matched until Sylke Otto (also German) won it in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005.

At the FIL European Luge Championships, Schumann won five medals with three golds (19731975), one silver (1977), and one bronze (1979).

A sixth place at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid concluded her career as a competitor, and she moved on to study Sports Sciences at the Academy for Physical Culture in Leipzig, in order to become a specialist trainer in sports sledding. She then began work at Oberhof coaching juniors before she became an East German team selector. After this she took a civilian job with the army. Following reunification in 1990 she took a position as a Personnel specialist with the military Sports Promotion group at Oberhof. Later the Military commissariat posted her to their Psychological Section at Zella-Mehlis.

In 2004, Schumann was among the first three inductees into the International Luge Federation (FIL) Hall of Fame, along with Klaus Bonsack and Paul Hildgartner.

Schumann died on 11 April 2017 in Oberhof at the age of 64. [1]

References edit

  1. ^ "Olympic Champion Margit Schumann passes away". Internationaler Rennrodelverband. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-13.

External links edit

  • FIL-Luge.org January 7, 2004 Hall of Fame induction.
  • Fuzilogik Sports - Winter Olympic results - Women's luge.
  • Hickoksports.com results on Olympic champions in luge and skeleton.
  • Hickok sports information on World champions in luge and skeleton.
  • List of European luge champions (in German)
  • SportQuick.com information on World champions in luge (in French)