Michael SPIELMANN

Michael Spielmann, born in East Berlin, was a big junior talent at the end of the 1980s. After winning bronze and gold in the 1987 and 1988 World Junior Championships, he impressed with a fifth place at the 1989 World Championships. Later that same season, he won three distances at the World Junior Championships, after falling in the 500 m, leaving the title to Andrey Anufriyenko. After this season, Spielmann never achieved these high rankings again, his best later performance a 15th position in the 1990 European Championships. He qualified for the 1994 Olympic Games in three distances, finishing 20th in the 1,500 m. Spielmann retired from skating after the 1999/2000 season, as did his wife Ulrike Adeberg.

Personal Bests: 500 – 37.3 (1998); 1000 – 1:11.46 (1998); 1500 – 1:49.67 (1998); 5000 – 6:49.38 (1999); 10000 – 14:25.60 (1989).