Sylvia Gerasch

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameSylvia•Gerasch
Used nameSylvia•Gerasch
Born16 March 1969 in Cottbus, Brandenburg (GER)
Measurements174 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsBerliner SC, Berlin (GER)
NOC Germany

Biography

Born in East Germany, breaststroke swimmer Sylvia Gerasch represented GDR until re-unification, and Germany thereafter. Representing East Germany, she won the 100 metres breaststroke gold medal at the 1986 World Championships, and a silver medal with the medley relay. She was also the 1985 European 100 metres breaststroke champion, and won silvers in 1983 in both breaststroke events, and a 100 metres bronze in 1987.

After re-unification, Gerasch added two golds, three silvers and one bronze at European Championships, plus six golds, two silvers and another bronze at European Short-Course Championships. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Gerasch finished eighth over 100 metres breaststroke and fourth with the 4x100 medley relay, only 0.17 seconds behind Japan.

In connection with the 1998 doping process against the former GDR coaches, Dieter Lindemann and Volker Frischke with the accusation of systematic doping from 1982-88, the accusation against Gerasch of taking illegal performance-enhancing substances and the unlawful World and European Championship titles that were achieved with them were also raised but not proven. Nevertheless, she was banned for caffeine doping from 1993-96.

Gerasch trained and worked with a tax consultancy, later the Berlin Football Association, and finally with the Red Cross at Fürstenwalde.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
2000 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER Sylvia Gerasch
100 metres Breaststroke, Women (Olympic) 8
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women (Olympic) Germany 4

Special Notes