Christa Rothenburger-Luding

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameChrista•Rothenburger-Luding
Used nameChrista•Rothenburger-Luding
Born4 December 1959 in Weißwasser, Sachsen (GER)
Measurements164 cm / 60 kg
AffiliationsSC Einheit Dresden, Dresden (GER)
NOC East Germany Germany
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 2
Bronze 1
Total 5

Biography

Christa Luding-Rothenburger was the first woman to win medals at both the Winter and Summer Games (also in the same year). A speed skating gold medalist at 500 metres (1984) and 1,000 metres (1988), she also won a silver in the cycling match sprint in 1988. Luding-Rothenburger also earned a speed skating silver medal in 1988 and bronze medal in 1992 in the 500 metres. She was a World Champion at both sports, winning the speed skating sprint title in 1985 and 1988 and the cycling sprint championship in 1986. Although many athletes have demonstrated proficiency in both cycling and speed skating, few have competed at the top level in both sports at the same time and only Sheila Young (USA), Beth Heiden (USA) and Clara Hughes (CAN) have approached Luding-Rothenburger’s success at both.

Her husband and trainer, Ernst Luding also had a daughter (Christa’s stepdaughter), Sylke. She was a promising junior skater, setting a junior World Record and winning a medal at the World Junior Championships. Both parents later owned a small transport company.

Personal Bests: 500 – 39.12 (1988); 1000 – 1:17.65 (1988); 1500 – 2:05.83 (1988); 3000 – 4:50.59 (1982).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1980 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GDR Christa Rothenburger
500 metres, Women (Olympic) 12
1,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 18
1984 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GDR Christa Rothenburger
500 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
1,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 5
1988 Summer Olympics Cycling Track (Cycling) GDR Christa Rothenburger
Sprint, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
1988 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GDR Christa Rothenburger
500 metres, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
1,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
1992 Winter Olympics Speed Skating (Skating) GER Christa Luding
500 metres, Women (Olympic) 3 Bronze
1,000 metres, Women (Olympic) 8

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1984 Winter Olympics 10 February 1984 Speed Skating (Skating) 500 metres, Women Final Standings 41.02 1
1984 Winter Olympics 13 February 1984 Speed Skating (Skating) 1,000 metres, Women Final Standings 1:23.98 5
1988 Winter Olympics 22 February 1988 Speed Skating (Skating) 500 metres, Women Final Standings 39.12 WR 2
1988 Winter Olympics 26 February 1988 Speed Skating (Skating) 1,000 metres, Women Final Standings 1:17.65 WR 1

Special Notes