Barbara Krause

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameBarbara•Krause (-Wanja)
Used nameBarbara•Krause
Born7 July 1959 in Berlin, Berlin (GER)
Measurements180 cm / 68 kg
AffiliationsSC Dynamo Berlin, Ost-Berlin (GER)
NOC East Germany
Medals OG
Gold 3
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 3

Biography

Barbara Krause was among the world’s best freestyle swimmers in the late 1970s. She bettered the world record in the 100 free three times and the 200 free one time. She won her first title at the 1975 World Championships in Cali with the 4×100 freestyle relay team. In 1977, Krause became triple European Champion. The following year, she won the 100 freestyle at the 1978 World Championships. The final highlight of her career was at the 1980 Olympic Games, when she won three gold medals in the 100 and 200 free and in the 4×100 freestyle relay. In 1988 Krause was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Barbara Krause married her teammate Lutz Wanja after the 1980 Olympic Games. Like many other East German swimmers Barbara was also systematically doped by her coaches as instructed by the GDR State Security, the Stasi, which was later noted in documents released in the unified Germany. She also gave birth to two severely disabled children, possibly through the impact of her history of using PEDs.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1980 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GDR Barbara Krause
100 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
200 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women (Olympic) East Germany 1 Gold

Olympic family relations

Special Notes