Kristin Otto facts for kids
Otto in 1986
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| Nationality | German | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 February 1966 Leipzig, Bezirk Leipzig, East Germany |
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kilograms (154 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | freestyle, butterfly, backstroke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sportclub Deutsche Hochschule für Körperkultur Leipzig |
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Medal record
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Kristin Otto (born February 7, 1966) is a famous German swimmer. She is known for winning many gold medals. Kristin became an Olympic, World, and European champion several times.
She made history at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Kristin was the first woman ever to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games! She also held world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle races. Kristin was also the first woman to swim the 100-meter backstroke in under a minute in a short course pool.
Contents
Kristin Otto's Swimming Journey
Kristin Otto was born in Leipzig, which was part of East Germany at the time. She started swimming when she was 11 years old. She trained at a special sports academy in East Germany.
Early Success in Swimming
When Kristin was 16, she competed in her first big event. This was the 1982 World Aquatics Championships. She won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke. She also helped her East German team win two more gold medals in relay races.
After 1982, Kristin started working with new coaches. She began to focus on other swimming styles, like freestyle and butterfly. At the European Championships in 1983, she came in second in the 100-meter freestyle.
Setting World Records
In 1984, Kristin set a new world record in the 200-meter freestyle. People expected her to win many gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. However, she could not compete. This was because 14 countries, including East Germany, decided not to attend the Games. This event is known as the boycott.
In 1985, Kristin had a tough year. She broke a bone in her back. This injury stopped her from competing for most of the year. She also missed the European Championships that year.
Return to Competition
Kristin made a strong comeback at the 1986 World Championships in Madrid. She won four gold medals! These were in the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley, and two relay races. She also won two silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.
Her success continued the next year. At the 1987 European Championships, she won five more gold medals.
Olympic Glory in Seoul
At the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, everyone expected Kristin to win big. She did not disappoint! She won an amazing six gold medals. She also set new Olympic records in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.
Kristin Otto stopped competing in swimming in 1989. Today, she works as a sports reporter for German television. She was named the best female swimmer in the world by Swimming World magazine in 1984, 1986, and 1988.
See also
In Spanish: Kristin Otto para niños
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women)
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
