Rita SCHMIDT-KIRST

High jumper Rita Schmidt was a three-time Olympian finishing fifth in both 1968 and 1972, but was eliminated in qualifying in 1976 at Montréal. Her greatest moments came at the European Indoors, winning gold medals in 1968, 1969 and 1972, and two bronze medals in 1970 and 1974. She also won six consecutive East German titles in 1967-72 and won indoor titles in 1968-70 and 1972. Schmidt-Kirst set eight world records between 1968 and 1974, and in 1972 became the first German high jumper to better 1.90 metres.

Rita Schmidt married decathlete Joachim Kirst and became the sister-in-law of Jutta Kirst, wife of Joachim’s brother Edgar, also high jumpers. After reunification, when documents on doping in the former GDR became public, Schmidt-Kirst’s name was found in the list of doped athletes.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.92i (1974).