Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann

Who is Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann?

Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann is a former German speed skater and the most successful speed skater of all time. Born as Gunda Kleemann, she changed her name to Gunda Niemann after her marriage in 1991 to judoka Detlev Niemann. After their divorce in 1995, she kept the name Niemann. She then changed her name to Niemann-Stirnemann after marrying her longtime Swiss manager Oliver Stirnemann on 11 July 1997.

Kleemann was born in Sondershausen, East Germany, but has lived in Erfurt for most of her life. The speed skating oval in Erfurt was named after her. Before the German reunification in 1990, she skated for East Germany.

Niemann-Stirnemann dominated women's speed skating for several years, especially on the longer distances. She has competed in four Olympics, from 1988 to 1998, and won eight Olympic medals. In the nine years from 1991 to 1999, she won the World Allround Championships every year except 1994. She has a record number of 98 World Cup single distance victories and has won 19 overall World Cup titles. She was European Allround Champion 8 times. Over the course of her career, she set 18 world records. For her performances, she received the Oscar Mathisen Award three times: in 1995, 1996, and 1997.