Ute STARKE

Ute Starke, an East German gymnast, finished sixth with the team in the all-around event and 31st in the individual all-around at the 1960 Roma Olympic Games. She did not advance to any of the individual finals. Four years later in Tokyo she finished 10th in the individual all-around, and fourth with the team. She reached the final of the floor exercise and placed sixth. In Mexico City she finally won a bronze medal with the team.

Ute Starke was elected 1961 East German Sportswoman of the Year after winning the European Championship on the vault. In 1965 she added another silver medal in this event, and at the 1966 Worlds placed an unfortunate fourth. She was one of the first gymnasts from the former GDR who reached world class status. Between 1961 and 1965 Starke won seven East German individual titles. She is now considered responsible for the rise of world class women’s gymnastics in East Germany, and later became a longtime gymnast coach at her home club SC Leipzig.