Petra SCHNEIDER

Petra Schneider made her international breakthrough with a fifth place at the 1978 World Championships 400 m medley. Two years later, she broke the world record in that event. This made her the top favorite in the event, especially since the main contender, Tracy Caulkins of the USA was missing because of the boycott. At the Olympics, she lowered her own record by a further 2 seconds, and also captured a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle. At the 1982 World Championships at Guayaquil (Ecuador), she lowered the mark once more. This record, 4:36.10, stood for 15 years until it was broken by China's Chen Yan. In 2005, Schneider told on German television that her record (still a European and German mark) should be scratched, as her performances were influenced by doping.

Personal Bests: 400 m freestyle – ?; 400 m IM – 4:36.10 (1982).