Richarda Schmeißer

Richarda Schmeißer was a member of the East German women’s gymnastics team from 1970-75, during which time she won team silver medals at the 1970 World Championships in Ljubljana, the 1972 Summer Olympics in München, and the 1974 World Championships in Varna. Individually, in the all-around events, she finished 23rd at Ljubljana, 12th at München and ninth at Varna, but only reached the uneven bars apparatus final, in 1974, and finished fifth. In 1976, she was a substitute for the Montréal Olympics team, but did not compete.

At the 1975 European Championships, Schmeißer reached all apparatus finals, and finished fourth in the floor exercise, uneven bars and balance beam, as well as in the individual all-around. However, she won a silver medal in the horse vault, which she regarded as the greatest individual moment of her career. Domestically, she won the East German individual all-around title in 1975, and the uneven bars titles in 1974 and 1975.

Schmeißer later became a gymnastics coach and choreographer in Halle an der Saale, having studied sports, and graduated as a sports teacher. After re-unification, she became jobless and worked as an insurance agent.