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Gunda Kleemann-Niemann-Stirnemann

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexFemale
Full nameGunda•Kleemann-Niemann-Stirnemann
Used nameGunda•Kleemann-Niemann-Stirnemann
Born7 September 1966 in Sondershausen, Thüringen (GER)
Measurements170 cm / 65 kg
AffiliationsSC Turbine Erfurt, Erfurt (GER) / ESC Erfurt, Erfurt (GER)
NOC East Germany Germany
Medals OG
Gold 3
Silver 4
Bronze 1
Total 8

Biography

Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann won eight Olympic medals and three golds at the Olympics Winter Games of 1992, 1994, and 1998, equalling the marks of fellow German Karin Kania-Enke. Primarily a distance skater, her golds came at 3,000 meters in 1992 and 1998 and at 5,000 meters in 1992. At the World All-Around championships, Niemann-Stirnemann won eight championships – 1991-1993, and 1995-1999, breaking Kania-Enke’s record of five titles. She also won the World Cup title at 1,500 meters in 1991-1993 and 1995-1998, and at distances (3K and 5K) in 1992-1996 and 1998. She set 14 world records – six at 3,000 meters; four at 5,000 meters; and four in the combined all-around.

She was later voted speed skater of the century and the ice rink in Erfurt got her name. First she was married to the GDR judo master Detlef Niemann, then to Swiss manager Oliver Stirnemann. In 2019 she was inducted into the German Sport Hall of Fame. She then became assistant national coach at the Regional Olympic Center Erfurt. Her daughter Victoria Stirnemann also became a speed skater.

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.34 (1999); 1000 – 1:20.57 (2001); 1500 – 1:55.62 (2001); 3000 – 4:00.26 (2001); 5000 – 6:52.44 (2001).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GDR Gunda Kleemann
1,500 metres, Women (Olympic) =7
5,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 7
1992 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GER Gunda Niemann
1,500 metres, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
3,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
5,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
1994 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GER Gunda Niemann
1,500 metres, Women (Olympic) 3 Bronze
3,000 metres, Women (Olympic) DQ
5,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
1998 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GER Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann
1,500 metres, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
3,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
5,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1998 Winter Olympics 11 February 1998 Speed Skating (Skating) 3,000 metres, Women Final Standings 4:07.29 1
1998 Winter Olympics 20 February 1998 Speed Skating (Skating) 5,000 metres, Women Final Standings 6:59.65 WR 2

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1998 Winter Olympics Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony GER Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann

Olympic family relations

Special Notes