Heike Drechsler facts for kids

Drechsler at long jump
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Birth name	Heike Gabriela Daute
Nickname(s)	Heike Spix
Nationality	German
Born	(1964-12-16) 16 December 1964 (age 60) Gera, Bezirk Gera, East Germany
Height	181 cm
Weight	68 kg
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  East Germany Olympic Games Silver 1988 Seoul Long jump Bronze 1988 Seoul 100 m Bronze 1988 Seoul 200 m World Championships Gold 1983 Helsinki Long jump Silver 1987 Rome 100 m Bronze 1987 Rome Long jump World Indoor Championships Gold 1987 Indianapolis 200 m Gold 1987 Indianapolis Long jump European Championships Gold 1986 Stuttgart 200 m Gold 1986 Stuttgart Long jump Gold 1990 Split Long jump Silver 1990 Split 200 m Representing  Germany Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Long jump Gold 2000 Sydney Long jump World Championships Gold 1993 Stuttgart Long jump Silver 1991 Tokyo Long jump Bronze 1991 Tokyo 4x100 m relay European Championships Gold 1994 Helsinki Long jump Gold 1998 Budapest Long jump
Updated on 30 June 2015.

Heike Gabriela Drechsler (born December 16, 1964) is a famous German athlete who used to compete in track and field. She is known as one of the best long jumpers of all time. She even held the world record for a while!

Heike is the only woman to have won two Olympic gold medals in the long jump. She achieved this amazing feat in 1992 and again in 2000. She also won Olympic medals in shorter running races, like the 100 metres and 200 metres, back in 1988.

About Heike Drechsler

Heike Drechsler was born in Gera, a city in what was then East Germany. When she was a teenager, she was very good at the long jump. She later started competing in sprinting events too, like the 200 metres.

In 1984, she married Andreas Drechsler and started competing as Heike Drechsler. Her father-in-law, Erich Drechsler, was her coach.

Her Amazing Achievements

Besides her Olympic wins, Heike also won two World Championships in the long jump. These wins were in 1983 and 1993. She also earned gold medals in both the long jump and the 200-metre sprint at the World Indoor Championships in 1987.

Heike had many successes in European and German championships as well. One of her biggest rivals in the long jump was Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Even though they competed against each other, they were also good friends!

In 1986, Heike equaled the world record for the 200 metres sprint twice. She also set or equaled world records in the long jump in 1985 and 1986.

Her 200-metre time improved a lot in 1986. She went from running 100 metres in 11.75 seconds to 10.91 seconds. Her 200-metre time improved from 23.19 seconds to 21.71 seconds, which equaled the world record at the time.

Heike's 200-metre run of 21.71 seconds, even with a slight headwind, is one of the fastest ever by a woman.

Heike's Best Records

Heike Drechsler set some incredible personal bests during her career. These are her top performances in different events.

Long Jump Records

• 1983: 7.14 metres in Bratislava (as a junior athlete)
• 1985: 7.44 metres in East Berlin
• 1986: 7.45 metres in Tallinn
• 1988: 7.48 metres in Neubrandenburg
• 1992: 7.63 metres in Sestriere

Her 1992 jump in Sestriere was very long! It was 11 centimetres longer than the current world record. However, it had a tailwind that was just a tiny bit too strong to count as a new world record. Also, it was done at a high altitude, which can sometimes help athletes jump further.

200 Metres Records

• 1986: 21.71 seconds in Jena
• 1986: 21.71 seconds in Stuttgart

Heptathlon Records

• 1981: 5891 Points (as a junior athlete)
• 1994: 6741 Points in Talence

Images for kids

• 

  Heike Daute in 1984

• 

  Heike Daute in 1984

• 

  Heike Drechsler in 2018

See also

In Spanish: Heike Drechsler para niños

• German all-time top lists – 100 metres
• German all-time top lists – 200 metres