Barbara PETZOLD

Barbara Petzold made her Olympic debut in 1976, placing seventh in the 10km race and earning a bronze medal as a member of East Germany's 4x5km relay team. Her first event at the Lake Placid Games was the 5km race. She finished in fourth place, missing a bronze medal by only 18 hundredths of a second. Three days later, Petzold won the 10km contest, gaining a three and a half second victory over Hilkka Riihivuori. Petzold won a second gold medal by anchoring the East German squad to a clear victory in the relay.