Claudia Pechstein facts for kids

Pechstein in 2022
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Nationality	German
Born	(1972-02-22) 22 February 1972 (age 53) East Berlin, East Germany
Sport
Country	Germany (1990–)  East Germany (1988–1990)
Sport	Speed skating
Turned pro	1988
Medal record Women's speed skating Representing  Germany Olympic Games Gold 1994 Lillehammer 5000 m Gold 1998 Nagano 5000 m Gold 2002 Salt Lake City 3000 m Gold 2002 Salt Lake City 5000 m Gold 2006 Turin Team pursuit Silver 1998 Nagano 3000 m Silver 2006 Turin 5000 m Bronze 1992 Albertville 5000 m Bronze 1994 Lillehammer 3000 m World Championships Gold 1996 Hamar 5000 m Gold 2000 Nagano 1500 m Gold 2000 Nagano 3000 m Gold 2000 Milwaukee Allround Gold 2003 Berlin 5000 m Gold 2004 Seoul 3000 m Silver 1996 Hamar 1500 m Silver 1996 Hamar 3000 m Silver 1996 Inzell Allround Silver 1997 Nagano Allround Silver 1998 Calgary 3000 m Silver 1998 Calgary 5000 m Silver 1998 Heerenveen Allround Silver 1999 Heerenveen 3000 m Silver 1999 Heerenveen 5000 m Silver 1999 Hamar Allround Silver 2000 Nagano 5000 m Silver 2001 Salt Lake City 5000 m Silver 2001 Budapest Allround Silver 2003 Berlin 3000 m Silver 2003 Gothenburg Allround Silver 2004 Hamar Allround Silver 2005 Inzell 3000 m Silver 2005 Inzell 5000 m Silver 2006 Calgary Allround Silver 2007 Salt Lake City 5000 m Silver 2017 Gangneung 5000 m Bronze 1998 Calgary 1500 m Bronze 1997 Warszawa 5000 m Bronze 2001 Salt Lake City 3000 m Bronze 2002 Heerenveen Allround Bronze 2004 Seoul 5000 m Bronze 2005 Moscow Allround Bronze 2007 Salt Lake City Team pursuit Bronze 2008 Nagano Team pursuit Bronze 2011 Inzell 5000 m Bronze 2011 Inzell Team pursuit Bronze 2012 Heerenveen 5000 m Bronze 2013 Sochi 3000 m Bronze 2013 Sochi 5000 m Bronze 2015 Heerenveen 5000 m European Championships Gold 1998 Helsinki Allround Gold 2006 Hamar Allround Gold 2009 Heerenveen Allround Silver 1999 Heerenveen Allround Silver 2001 Baselga di Piné Allround Silver 2002 Erfurt Allround Silver 2003 Heerenveen Allround Silver 2004 Heerenveen Allround Silver 2012 Budapest Allround Bronze 1996 Heerenveen Allround Bronze 2005 Moscow Allround

Claudia Pechstein (born February 22, 1972) is a famous German speed skater. She has won many medals, including five gold medals at the Winter Olympics. With a total of nine Olympic medals (five gold, two silver, and two bronze), she was once the most successful Olympic speed skater ever. She is also the most successful German Winter Olympian of all time!

About Claudia Pechstein

Claudia Pechstein was born in East Berlin. She once held a world record for the 5000-meter race. She set this record in Salt Lake City in 2002. Claudia is also a sergeant in the German Federal Police. She trains at their sports center.

Olympic Achievements

Claudia is the first female Winter Olympian to win medals in five Olympics in a row, from 1992 to 2006. She won gold in the 5000 meters three times in a row (1994, 1998, 2002). She also won a bronze in 1992 and a silver in 2006 for the same race. In the 3000 meters, she won gold in 2002, silver in 1998, and bronze in 1994. Her fifth Olympic gold medal was in the team pursuit event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

After missing the 2010 Vancouver Games, she competed in her sixth Olympics in Sochi in 2014. She finished fourth in the 3000 meters and fifth in the 5000 meters. She also competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

In 2022, Claudia returned to the Olympic Games in Beijing. She was chosen to be the German flag-bearer for the opening ceremony. This was her eighth time at the Winter Olympics, setting a new record for female athletes!

Trying a New Sport

Claudia has also tried her hand at cycling. She competed in the German Track Championships in Berlin. She said she trained a lot on her bike as a skater, so she felt confident. She found it exciting to try a new type of competition.

A Challenging Time

In 2009, after a competition in Norway, Claudia faced a difficult situation. The International Skating Union (ISU) said her blood test results showed unusual levels. They decided to ban her from competing for two years. Claudia said she had a natural, inherited medical condition that caused these unusual blood values. She appealed the decision, but the ban was upheld.

This was a very tough time for Claudia. She continued to say she had not done anything wrong. She even tried to use new medical evidence to support her case. The ban meant she missed the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Returning to the Ice

After her two-year ban ended, Claudia returned to speed skating in February 2011. She quickly showed her strength by winning a bronze medal in the 5000-meter race at the 2011 World Championships. She continued to compete and win medals, proving her dedication to the sport.

Claudia later took her case to German courts to clear her name. In 2022, a higher court in Germany ruled that her basic rights had been violated. This decision sent her case back to lower courts to be looked at again.

Skating Records

Claudia Pechstein has set many impressive records throughout her career.

Personal Best Times

• 500 meters: 38.99 seconds (March 18, 2006)
• 1000 meters: 1:16.00 (February 24, 2007)
• 1500 meters: 1:54.31 (November 17, 2007)
• 3000 meters: 3:57.35 (March 18, 2006)
• 5000 meters: 6:46.91 (February 23, 2002) - This was a world record for a while and is still the German record!

World Records Set by Claudia

• 3000 meters: 4:07.13 (December 13, 1997)
• 5000 meters: 6:59.61 (February 20, 1998)
• 3000 meters: 3:59.26 (March 2, 2001)
• 3000 meters: 3:57.70 (February 10, 2002)
• 5000 meters: 6:46.91 (February 23, 2002)
• Team pursuit: 2:56.04 (November 12, 2005) - with Daniela Anschütz and Anni Friesinger

Olympic Records Set by Claudia

• 3000 meters: 3:57.70 (February 10, 2002)
• 5000 meters: 6:46.91 (February 23, 2002) - This is still the German record!

Images for kids

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  Claudia Pechstein in 2007

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  Pechstein competing in 2015

See also

In Spanish: Claudia Pechstein para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Winter Olympic medalists
• List of multiple Olympic medalists in one event
• List of people from Berlin