Christa Spielberg

Discus thrower Christa Spielberg was also active as a handball player in the top league of the former GDR at Dynamo Karl-Marx-Stadt. She finished seventh at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in the discus. The same year she set the first world record by an East German thrower, reaching 61.64. She won the gold medal at the 1966 European Championships beating West German champion Liesel Westermann, and placed Spielberg eighth in 1971.

Domestically Spielberg reached the discus final consecutively from 1960-1972, with one exception in 1965 although she was never champion, with her best finishes runners-up in 1968, 1971 and 1972. By profession she trained as a steno typist and bookkeeper, but later worked as a sports coach and teacher.

Personal Best: DT – 61.64 (1968).