Rita BLASEL

Not only was Rita Blasel the West German cross-country skiing champion from 1957-70, but she was also a capable track athlete specializing in the sprints 100 metres (PB 13.4), 200 metres (PB 28.0), and 400 metres (PB 1:02.3). She represented the mixed German team at three consecutive Winter Olympics 1956-64 with her best individual result being 12th in the 10 km event in both 1960 and 1964. With the relay team, however, she was fifth in 1960 and fourth in 1964.

She married Czech-born Hans Czech, who was also her coach, and after their marriage she took the name Czech-Blasel. Rita later became a sports teacher at a school in her hometown of Freiburg. She later entered politics and was a Freiburg city councilor for several years working with sports, youth, schools and social institutions.