Kathrin BOYDE

Kathrin Born was an educated economic and hotel manager. She was married to non-Olympian long distance runner Jens Boyde, but was later divorced. Her former husband Boyde was her coach until her retirement. In 2003 she married Lithuanian race walker Gintaras Erlingis.

She had a long active race walking career participating in three Olympic Games from 1992-2000, with a best performance in 1996, placing 15th; in three World Championships in 1993, 1995 and 1997; in two European Championships in 1994 and 1998, and in the European Indoor Championships in 1994. In 1990 she became the last East German Champion in the 5 km and earlier in 1985 in the indoor 5 km. After German reunification she managed 11 runner-ups between 1991 and 1997 in different distances before she became 1998 German Champion in the 10 km, in 2000 in the 20 km, and in 2002 in the indoor 3 km. In 2004 she retired after 20 years of high performance race walking.

Personal Bests: 10kmW – 43:27 (1998); 20kmW – 1-30:42 (2000).