Rita Schmidt-Kirst
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Rita•Schmidt-Kirst |
| Used name | Rita•Schmidt-Kirst |
| Born | 21 October 1950 in Großgrimma, Hohenmölsen, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER) |
| Measurements | 174 cm / 62 kg |
| Affiliations | SC DHfK, Leipzig (GER) |
| NOC |  East Germany |
Biography
High jumper Rita Schmidt was a three-time Olympian finishing fifth in both 1968 and 1972, but was eliminated in qualifying in 1976 at Montréal. Her greatest moments came at the European Indoors, winning gold medals in 1968, 1969 and 1972, and two bronze medals in 1970 and 1974. She also won six consecutive East German titles in 1967-72 and won indoor titles in 1968-70 and 1972. Schmidt-Kirst set eight world records between 1968 and 1974, and in 1972 became the first German high jumper to better 1.90 metres.
Rita Schmidt married decathlete Joachim Kirst and became the sister-in-law of Jutta Kirst, wife of Joachim’s brother Edgar, also high jumpers. After reunification, when documents on doping in the former GDR became public, Schmidt-Kirst’s name was found in the list of doped athletes.
Personal Best: HJ – 1.92i (1974).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Rita Schmidt | |||
| High Jump, Women (Olympic) | 5 | |||||
| 1972 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Rita Schmidt | |||
| High Jump, Women (Olympic) | 5 | |||||
| 1976 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Rita Kirst | |||
| High Jump, Women (Olympic) | =22 r1/2 |
Olympic family relations
- Sister-in-law of Jutta Kirst
- Wife of Joachim Kirst
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships (3–0–2 1968 Madrid gold: high jump (competed as Rita Schmidt); 1969 Beograd gold: high jump (competed as Rita Schmidt); 1970 Wien bronze: high jump (competed as Rita Schmidt); 1972 Grenoble gold: high jump (competed as Rita Schmidt); 1974 Göteborg bronze: high jump (competed as Rita Kirst))