Gabriele WETZKO

Gabriele Wetzko was a freestyler who won three silver medals with East German relays at the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 München Summer Games. With the 4x100 freestyle relay she won medals both years, while with the medley relay she medaled only in 1972. Individually she reached two finals in 1968: in the 200 freestyle she came in an unfortunate fourth, and she was fifth in the 400 free. In 1972, she placed an unfortunate fourth again in the 100 free.

Wetzko first burst upon the international scene in 1967, winning the 100 freestyle at the Europeans Youth Championships. In 1969 she was the first European female to swim the 100 free under one minute (59.6 at Budapest). In 1970 she became known worldwide as the winner of four golds at the Barcelona Europeans (100 / 200 freestyle, 4x100 freestyle relay, medley relay). Domestically Wetzko won East German 100 freestyle titles from 1969-72, 200 free titles from 1968-69 and 1971, and the 400 free titles in 1968-69, also adding several relay titles.

Wetzko later studied medicine and economics. She first married her teammate Wilfried Hartung, then her coach Volker Frischke, but both marriages ended in divorce.