Bianca Kappler

German long jumper Bianca Kappler finished eighth at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She won the bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships the following year when her final jump was measured at 6.96 metres. Immediately after the jump, Kappler told the judges that she couldn’t possibly jump that far. After sixteen hours of deliberation and analysis of the video footage, the jury also concluded that the jump was not as far as indicated by the distance measurement; the jump was therefore annulled. However, since the jump would very likely have been enough for a medal, she received the bronze medal, as did Romanian Adina Anton, who had jumped 6,59 metres. For her conduct, Kappler was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s Fair Play Trophy at the 2005 German Championships.

Kappler’s next best international result was a fifth place at the 2007 World Championships. She became German Champion in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, and indoor Champion in 2003 and 2007. Due to an Achilles tendon rupture, she could not participate at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, despite being selected. By profession, Kappler became a teacher.

Personal Best: LJ – 6.90 (2007).