Theresia Kiesl

Athlete Theresia Kiesl was Austrian champion in 800 metres (1989-1993), 1500 metres (1989, 1991-92, 1995, 1997), and 4×400 relay (1981, 1985, 1989). She competed in the 1500 metres the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. In 1992, Kiesl was eliminated in the semi-finals but in 1996 won the bronze medal and became the first Austrian woman in Olympic history to win a medal in a running discipline. Subsequently, she was elected Austrian Sportswoman of the Year.

Kiesl finished sixth at the 1993 World Championships and won the gold medal at the 1998 European Indoor Championships. In 1998, doping substances were discovered in her apartment, allegedly belonging to her husband. He was later convicted of financial crimes for this. She herself was never prosecuted, but rumours persisted.

In 2001, Kiesl completed her training as a state-certified instructor and passed on her experiences in high performance sports to young people. She passed the sports management exam in 2003 and that year also entered the world of politics as a member of the Upper Austrian State Parliament and since then focused on her political work.

Personal Best: 1500 – 4:03.02 (1996).