East German swimmer Eva-Maria ten Elsen from Leipzig won the bronze medal in the 200 breaststroke at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. This was the first Olympic swimming medal for the former GDR. She won the East German 200 individual medley titles in 1952-53, the 400 individual medley title in 1954 and added the 200 breaststroke to her collection in 1956
Ten Elsen then studied sports at the Deutsche Hochschule für Körperkultur (DHfK) and graduated as a swimming coach. From 1971-90 she was employed by the Leipzig-based sports goods company Expovita. After German reunification she worked as a real estate broker and later for a health insurance company.
Germany
East Germany