Kathrin Born-Boyde

Kathrin Born was an educated economic and hotel manager. She was married to non-Olympian long distance runner Jens Boyde, but was later divorced. Nevertheless, he was her coach until her retirement. In 2003 she married Lithuanian race walker Gintaras Erlingis.

She had a long active race walking career participating in three Olympic Games from 1992-2000, with a best performance in 1996, placing 15th; in three World Championships in 1993, 1995 and 1997; in two European Championships in 1994 and 1998, and in the European Indoor Championships in 1994. In 1990 she became the last East German Champion in the 5 km and earlier in 1985 in the indoor 5 km. After German reunification she managed 11 runner-ups between 1991 and 1997 in different distances before she became 1998 German Champion in the 10 km, in 2000 in the 20 km, and in 2002 in the indoor 3 km. In 2004 she retired after 20 years of high performance race walking.

Personal Bests: 10kmW – 43:27 (1998); 20kmW – 1-30:42 (2000).