Sabine Spitz

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameSabine•Spitz
Used nameSabine•Spitz
Born27 December 1971 in Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg (GER)
Measurements167 cm / 60 kg
AffiliationsMerida International/SG Rheinfelden/Team Fusion Pro
NOC Germany
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 3

Biography

Sabine Spitz was a five-time Olympian as a mountain biker from 2000-2016. She won a medal of each colour: gold at Beijing in 2008, silver at London in 2012, and bronze at Athens in 2004. Spitz also won the World Championships in 2003 (cross-country) and 2009 (marathon), and added ten silver and four bronze medals. At Europeans Spitz won the 2007 and 2008 cross-country titles, and the marathon titles in 2007 and 2015. She also added one more silver and seven bronze medals.

Nationally, Spitz won the cross-country titles in 2001-06, 2008-13, 2016-17, and the marathon titles in 2004-05, 2010, 2015, and 2018. She also won the eliminator sprint in 2014. In 2019, she finished her impressive and dominant professional sports career.

Spitz lived openly gay and engaged in several projects concerning disadvantaged youths. She was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award for her sport successes. In 2009, she was also awarded the IOC Trophy for her consequent anti-doping attitude. In 2003 and 2008 she was named Cyclist of the Year in Germany. She was also inducted into the European Cycling Hall of Fame. In 2019, she was presented the “Sparkassenpreis for Role Models in Sport” of the German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV) as part of the ZDF Gala Sportsman of the Year.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
2000 Summer Olympics Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) GER Sabine Spitz
Cross-Country, Women (Olympic) 9
2004 Summer Olympics Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) GER Sabine Spitz
Cross-Country, Women (Olympic) 3 Bronze
2008 Summer Olympics Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) GER Sabine Spitz
Cross-Country, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
2012 Summer Olympics Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) GER Sabine Spitz
Cross-Country, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
2016 Summer Olympics Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) GER Sabine Spitz
Cross-Country, Women (Olympic) 19