Steffen Zesner

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSteffen•Zesner
Used nameSteffen•Zesner
Born28 September 1967 in Herzberg, Brandenburg (GER)
Measurements185 cm / 80 kg
AffiliationsSportclub Dynamo Berlin/Sportclub Berlin
NOC East Germany Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 3
Total 4

Biography

Steffen Zesner started at the 1988 Olympics for East Germany and in 1992 and 1996 for the reunified German team. During the mid-1990s he was the focus of the yellow press concerning his relationship with his teammate Franziska van Almsick, as they assumed a forthcoming “dream wedding”. The ensuing legal battle with the yellow press “Das Neue Schnell und Aktuell” (The News Fast and Actual) lasted almost two years until it was resolved in favor of Zesner and van Almsick and “Das Neue Schnell und Aktuell” had to retract some of their statements. Nevertheless, the relationship broke down – possibly because of this stress.

Zesner won four relay medals at the Olympics between 1988 and 1996, adding a gold at the 1991 World Championship over 4×200 metres together with Peter Sitt, Stefan Pfeiffer and Michael Groß. In total, he earned 2 golds, two silvers and three bronzes at World Championships. At the 1995 European Championships, he won his only major individual title, winning the 400 freestyle. He also added two more gold, four silver and five bronze medals at European Championships. He then became severely ill from kidney stones and retired after the 1996 Olympics, founding his own sports consultancy company.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GDR Steffen Zesner
100 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 17
200 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 6
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) East Germany 3 Bronze
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) East Germany 2 Silver
1992 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER Steffen Zesner
200 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 7
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) Germany 3 Bronze
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) Germany 4
1996 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER Steffen Zesner
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 9
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) Germany 3 Bronze

Special Notes