Astrid Strauß

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameAstrid•Strauß
Used nameAstrid•Strauß
Born24 December 1968 in Ost-Berlin (East Berlin), Berlin (GER) 
Measurements187 cm / 82 kg
AffiliationsBerliner TSC, Berlin (GER)
NOC East Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Astrid Strauß was an East German long-distance freestyle swimmer who won the 800 metres silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Due to the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Games she could not participate in Los Angeles. Strauß won two gold medals (800 metres and 4x200 metres freestyle relay) and a silver medal (400 metres) at the 1986 World Championships. She also won eight gold and four silver medals at European Championships.

Strauß trained with coach Wolfgang Sack and was part of the systematic doping system enforced on her by the GDR state system. In the course of the Olympic qualification for Barcelona in 1992, Manfred Donike’s doping institute discovered an excessive level of testosterone for Strauß, whereupon she was banned for a long time. Therefore, her selection for Barcelona was cancelled. She blamed her excessive consumption of strawberry punch for the high content of the male hormone, which was later confirmed. Strauß later worked as a receptionist in a Berlin hotel.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GDR Astrid Strauß
800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes