Steffi Martin facts for kids
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Martin at the 1985 World championships in Oberhof, East Germany
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Citizenship | Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 September 1962 Lauter, Saxony, East Germany |
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| Died | 21 June 2017 (aged 54) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Luge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Steffi Martin Walter was a famous German luge athlete. She was born on September 17, 1962, and passed away on June 21, 2017. Steffi was amazing at luge, a sport where you slide down an icy track on a small sled. She won many big awards in the 1980s, representing East Germany. These included two gold medals at the Olympic Games and two gold medals at the FIL World Luge Championships. She also earned two silver medals at the FIL European Luge Championships.
Contents
Steffi's Life Story
Steffi Martin was born in Lauter, Saxony, a town in Germany. She later got married and lived in Großdubrau with her husband and their three children. After her first child was born, Steffi took a break from her sport. But she loved luge so much that she came back to compete again!
Later, Steffi decided to stop competing in sports. She then became a physiotherapist, helping people with their bodies. She also studied law and worked for the local government. In 1998, her hometown of Lauter made her an honorary citizen. This was a special way to thank her for her achievements.
Her Amazing Luge Career
Steffi Martin Walter was a very successful luge athlete. She won many medals in important competitions around the world.
European Championships Medals
Steffi won her first silver medal at the FIL European Luge Championships in 1982. This competition was held in Winterberg, and another German athlete, Bettina Schmidt, won the gold. Steffi won another silver medal at the European Championships in 1986 in Hammarstrand.
World Championship Wins
Steffi was a two-time world champion! She won gold medals in the women's singles event at the FIL World Luge Championships.
- Her first gold was in 1983 at Lake Placid, New York.
- Her second gold was in 1985 at Oberhof, Germany.
Luge World Cup Champion
In the 1983–84 season, Steffi became the overall Luge World Cup champion in women's singles. She shared this title with her teammate, Bettina Schmidt.
Olympic Gold Medals
Steffi Martin Walter is famous for winning two Olympic gold medals!
- Her first gold medal was at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. She competed under her maiden name, Steffi Martin.
- She made history at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She won her second gold medal, becoming the first woman to win two Olympic luge titles in a row! By then, she was competing under her married name, Steffi Walter.
Another luge athlete, Sylke Otto, later matched Steffi's record by winning two Olympic gold medals in 2002 and 2006.
Steffi's Passing
Steffi Martin Walter passed away on June 21, 2017. She had been diagnosed with cancer in October 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Steffi Walter para niños
