Ruth Fuchs
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Other |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Ruth•Fuchs (Gamm-, -Hellmann) |
| Used name | Ruth•Fuchs |
| Nick/petnames | Banne |
| Born | 14 December 1946 in Egeln, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER) |
| Died | 20 September 2023 in Jena, Thüringen (GER) |
| Measurements | 169 cm / 71 kg |
| Affiliations | SC Motor Jena, Jena (GER) |
| NOC |  East Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 2 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 2 |
Biography
Ruth Fuchs was the best female javelin thrower of the 1970s and was voted by Track & Field News as female Athlete of the Decade for the 1970s. After being world-ranked #2 in 1970-71, she was ranked #1 every year from 1973-79, followed by being ranked third in 1980. She set six world records with the javelin and was the first female javelin thrower to better 60 metres (1970). In addition to her Olympic gold medals, Fuchs was European Champion in both 1974 and 1978.
Ruth Fuchs later earned a doctoral degree and was Vice President of the Track & Field Association of East Germany from 1984-1990. After the reunification of Germany she became a Member of Parliament for the left-wing party PDS – Die Linke in 1990 and 1992-2002, as well as a Member of Parliament from Thurinigia in 2004. She was married to the middle distance runner Ulrich Fuchs, but they divorced and she later married her former coach Karl Hellmann. Ruth Fuchs has admitted using steroids during her career, as part of the official East German sports programme.
Personal Best: JT – 69.96 (1980).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Ruth Fuchs | |||
| Javelin Throw, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 1976 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Ruth Fuchs | |||
| Javelin Throw, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 1980 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GDR |
Ruth Fuchs | |||
| Javelin Throw, Women (Olympic) | 8 |
Other participations
| Games | Role | NOC | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 Summer Olympics | Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony | GDR |
Ruth Fuchs |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Athletics Championships (2–0–1 1971 Helsinki bronze: javelin throw; 1974 Roma gold: javelin throw; 1978 Praha gold: javelin throw)
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Members of National Legislatures (Member of East-German Volkskammer from 18 March 1990 through 2 October 1990 (PDS). Member of German Bundestag from 3 October 1990 through 20 December 1990 and from 11 March 1992 through 2002 (PDS))