Gabriele Wetzko
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Gabriele•Wetzko (-Hartung-, -Frischke-, -Kühne) |
| Used name | Gabriele•Wetzko |
| Born | 28 August 1954 in Leipzig, Sachsen (GER) |
| Measurements | 171 cm / 60 kg |
| Affiliations | SC DHfK, Leipzig (GER) |
| NOC |  East Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 2 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 2 |
Biography
Gabriele Wetzko was a freestyler who won three silver medals with East German relays at the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 München Summer Games. With the 4x100 freestyle relay she won medals both years, while with the medley relay she medaled only in 1972. Individually she reached two finals in 1968: in the 200 freestyle she came in an unfortunate fourth, and she was fifth in the 400 free. In 1972, she placed an unfortunate fourth again in the 100 free.
Wetzko first burst upon the international scene in 1967, winning the 100 freestyle at the Europeans Youth Championships. In 1969 she was the first European female to swim the 100 free under one minute (59.6 at Budapest). In 1970 she became known worldwide as the winner of four golds at the Barcelona Europeans (100 / 200 freestyle, 4x100 freestyle relay, medley relay). Domestically Wetzko won East German 100 freestyle titles from 1969-72, 200 free titles from 1968-69 and 1971, and the 400 free titles in 1968-69, also adding several relay titles.
Wetzko later studied medicine and economics. She first married her teammate Wilfried Hartung, then her coach Volker Frischke, but both marriages ended in divorce.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | GDR |
Gabriele Wetzko | |||
| 200 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 4 | |||||
| 400 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 5 | |||||
| 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women (Olympic) | East Germany | 2 | Silver | |||
| 1972 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | GDR |
Gabriele Wetzko | |||
| 100 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 4 | |||||
| 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women (Olympic) | East Germany | 2 | Silver | |||
| 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women (Olympic) | East Germany | 2 |
Olympic family relations
- Wife (divorced) of Wilfried Hartung
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 23 August 1969 - 28 May 1973: 59.6 (23 August 1969; Budapest, HUN), 59.6 tied (13 April 1970; Novosibirks, URS), 59.6 tied (7 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP), 59.3 (11 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP), 59.21 (29 August 1972; München, FRG); 200 m freestyle – 24 August 1969 - 18 April 1972: 2:08.9 (24 August 1969; Budapest, HUN), 2:08.2 (10 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP); 400 m freestyle – 20 October 1968 - 8 September 1970: 4:40.2 (20 October 1968; Ciudad de México, MEX), 4:36.1 (15 August 1969; Wien, AUT); 200 m medley – 19 December 1971 - 18 April 1972: 2:27.5 tied (19 December 1971; Dresden, GDR); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 4 April 1968 - 13 July 1968, 26 October 1968 - 24 June 1969, and 11 September 1970 - 8 September 1973: 4:09.4 (4 April 1968; Tallinn, URS), 4:05.7 (26 October 1968; Ciudad de México, MEX), 4:00.8 (11 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP), 3:55.55 (30 August 1972; München, FRG); 4×100 m medley relay – 23 August 1969 - 18 April 1972 and 3 September 1972 - 3 September 1972: 4:34.8 (23 August 1969; Budapest, HUN), 4:30.2 (15 April 1970; Novosibirsk, URS), 4:30.1 (9 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP), 4:27.58 (3 September 1972; München, FRG))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (4×100 m freestyle relay – 11 September 1970 - 9 September 1971: 4:00.8 (11 September 1970; Barcelona, ESP))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Aquatics Championships (4–0–0 1970 Barcelona SWM gold: 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay, and 4×100 m medley relay)